NY Jets Head Coach Profile: Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy

The NY Jets could look to hire Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

The next era of NY Jets football appears to be on the horizon. After a disastrous rebuild attempt, the franchise has officially parted ways with head coach Adam Gase. It also appears as though the future of quarterback Sam Darnold is in question.

The team has already begun their interview process with one of the hotter names available on the coaching market — longtime Kansas City assistant Eric Bieniemy.

Despite their recent ineptitude, the fact that the Jets possess the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft makes the franchise a potentially desirable destination.

Would Bieniemy be a good fit for Gang Green? Here are the pros and cons of a union?

Pros of the NY Jets hiring Eric Bieniemy

Bieniemy has led the Chiefs to a historic level of production since taking over as offensive coordinator. The team finished the 2020 regular season ranked first in total yards. They also ranked sixth in 2019 and first in 2018.

Of course, the presence of a transcendent talent in Patrick Mahomes has greatly aided his resume. The Chiefs have rapidly become the most dangerous and exciting offensive unit in recent memory thanks to contributions from Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and an array of other supporting players.

However, Bieniemy has done a tremendous job setting these players up for great success. His scheme and creativity have allowed this collection of talent to reach their absolute peak.

Additionally, Bieniemy carries the benefit of being an Andy Reid disciple. The longtime head coach has been one of the most respected leaders in the NFL for over two decades.

The two-time Super Bowl champion (one as a head coach) has worked alongside Bieniemy since they both arrived in Kansas City in 2013.

While the longtime offensive mastermind has never been a head coach himself, he does have the advantage of seeing one of the best leaders in the league in an up-close-and-personal way.

Surely these hands-on experiences will help him as he makes the eventual transition to the head coaching ranks.

Cons of the NY Jets hiring Eric Bieniemy

Despite his close relationship with Reid, the fact remains that Bieniemy will be a rookie head coach. While there are many reasons to be optimistic about his prospects, the NFL has seen countless promising coordinators prove to be incapable of adjusting to the pace of a primary leader.

The Jets would be taking a less risky path if they chose to hire someone with experience in a head coaching position. While most of the options on the market have blemishes on their resume, a seasoned option would eliminative the risk of a failed head coaching transition.

Perhaps the biggest potential knock on Bieniemy is the strength of Kansas City’s roster. While he appears to be a brilliant coordinator with a sustainable system, his next destination will assuredly have a very different talent level.

If he were to join the Jets, Bieniemy would go from a depth chart riddled with All-Pro players, to a franchise with Darnold or an unproven, rookie, quarterback taken with the second overall pick.

Can the Kansas City coordinator find a path toward success in a different environment? Is his system reproducible with an MVP QB? These are all serious questions that Joe Douglas and the Jets front office must ask.

The Verdict

Despite the concerns, Bieniemy seems to be an ideal candidate for the Jets coaching gig. The fact that four other franchises have already conducted interviews shows that his immense upside.

While there some appeal in a more seasoned coach, should the Jets choose to hire a first-time option, Bieniemy should be at the top of their list.

Coaching Score: 8 out of 10