Former Vikings assistant coach lands coordinator job with Commanders

Eric Bieniemy used to be a coach for the Minnesota Vikings but he will be the new offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.

It has been a while since Eric Bieniemy was working with the Minnesota Vikings, but he was the team’s running backs coach and assistant head coach from 2006 through 2010. He became the offensive coordinator for Colorado next and then shifted to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013 and became their offensive coordinator in 2018.

Bieniemy’s name has been involved in many discussions about possibly getting an opportunity as a head coach in the NFL and he will likely see that role at some time in his career but he will make at least one more stop in Washington before that happens.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero on Twitter, Bieniemy and the Commanders have agreed to make him their offensive coordinator and assistant head coach with a multi-year contract.

It is interesting that he decided to leave the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and vacate their offensive coordinator position but a chance to be an assistant head coach and prove his value in Washington drew him away.

The Commanders’ offense will present some challenges for Bieniemy since it will be a completely different job from what he was doing in Kansas City. If he can be successful in Washington, this will make him a top candidate for a future head coaching opportunity.

Washington isn’t on the Vikings’ slate of opponents for the 2023 season but Bieniemy should help to improve a team with some great defensive pieces and some young talent on offense  The Commanders need to try to close the gap in a hotly contested NFC East.

Congratulations to former Minnesota Vikings coach Eric Bieniemy on his promotion and new opportunity with the Washington Commanders. It has been fun seeing his rise in the ranks over the years and he isn’t done moving up yet.