Commanders Coaching Candidate Eric Bieniemy 'Held Back' by Chiefs' Andy Reid?

The Washington Commanders have an interest in Eric Bieniemy as their next offensive coordinator, and it may be Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid's fault.

There are plenty who would love to see Eric Bieniemy come in to be the next Washington Commanders offensive coordinator. 

With his history of success with high-flying young offenses led by exciting quarterback play, who could blame them?

One person who may not be so excited, however, is Bieniemy himself or his former head coach with the Kansas City Chiefs, Andy Reid. 

But Stephen A. Smith of ESPN's First Take said on Wednesday it may be Reid himself who has kept Bieniemy from getting a head coaching job up to this point.

"When we think about what's holding Eric Bieniemy back most, it's Andy Reid," Smith said. "Andy Reid has cost Eric Bieniemy a head coaching job in the National Football League. We don't want to say it, but it's true...Because even though you're the head coach, you don't have to call plays...But Andy Reid not only called some plays, he made sure we knew he called plays."

Smith stopped short of saying Reid is to blame for Bieniemy's not getting hired as an NFL head coach despite well over a dozen interviews over recent years. 

According to the NFL's official interview tracker, this cycle Bieniemy got just one head coaching interview, and again he didn't get the job. 

This is a result of the fact that in Kansas City both the offensive coordinator and head coach will call plays at times, something that happens throughout the NFL, but with this team, more shine is put on Reid's involvement than usual.

"Somehow in Kansas City, it's convoluted," Smith continued. "One minute it's Eric Bieniemy, another minute it's Andy Reid...If you give owners a choice to give credit to somebody, who the hell do you think they're going to give credit to? They're going to give credit to Andy Reid."

Smith continues to point out that while Reid had a storied coaching career established, it wasn't until Patrick Mahomes became the Chiefs' starting quarterback and Bieniemy the offensive coordinator that this recent string of success began. 

And he may have a point, which makes Washington's open offensive coordinator position an attractive one for Bieniemy. 

Getting the chance to clearly run his own platoon under a defensive head coach in Ron Rivera who doesn't have his fingerprints on the unit the way Reid does in Kansas City. 

It may not be the job Bieniemy wanted, but it may just be the one he needed.

And if it works, it'll likely benefit the Commanders who are expected to be the franchise that hires the Super Bowl-winning coordinator to lead their offense in 2023.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82 and on the Locked On Commanders podcast.

Get your Washington Commanders game tickets from SI Tickets HERE!

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Washington Commanders? Click Here.

Follow Commander Country on Twitter.

Want even more Washington Commanders news? Check out the Si.com team page here