Why Commanders' Eric Bieniemy 'Loves' Terry McLaurin
Even before Eric Bieniemy became the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator, receiver Terry McLaurin was on his radar.
McLaurin first got Bieniemy's attention when he came out of Ohio State in 2019. Bieniemy, who was with the Kansas City Chiefs at the time, said he and the team viewed McLaurin highly at the time compared to the popular notion that he's underrated.
Now that Bieniemy has gotten to coach McLaurin, the former third-round pick has been everything he expected and then some.
"I have known all about him," Bieniemy said. "There's no hidden secret, and there's no surprise to his mental ability [and] his physical capabilities. I love the person, I love the role model and I love the leader. I love the things that he brings to this organization and to our locker room."
For as good as McLaurin is as a player, you'll often hear people rave about who he is as a person and leader for the Commanders. For Bieniemy, that leadership has come in many forms, but at McLaurin's core, he lifts the people around him.
"At times he's very quiet, [and] at times he can be very outspoken," Bieniemy said. "He brings a lot of energy. He's very intelligent, he plays hard, he plays fast, he cares, he's not afraid of being vulnerable and asking tough questions. Those are the things that you like about him because the only thing he does is he helps others around him to be better. That's what you want. When you have role models like that in your locker room, you have a chance. You have a chance because those young guys get to learn from such an ultimate professional."
There's no questioning McLaurin's ability. He's had three straight seasons with at least 1,000 yards and four touchdowns. But for as much as he is to the Commanders' offense, one could argue who he is off the field is just as important for Washington.
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