Maybe Eric Bieniemy is the problem. That seems to be the message Stephen A. Smith tried to get across when he recently spoke about the now-UCLA Bruins offensive coordinator. In a shocking change of tune, Smith said that he has come to a point of realization that it doesn’t make sense for him to defend and campaign for Bieniemy as a potential head coach of an NFL franchise (h/t Awful Announcing).
“I have spent years lamenting the state of affairs when it comes to the state of affairs as it pertains to the National Football League and Black coaches,” said Smith on the Stephen A. Smith Show. “I have spent years coming to the defense of Eric Bieniemy. Not anymore. Can’t do it anymore. When I think about Eric Bieniemy, I think about how Demeco Ryans got the job in Houston and Mike McDaniels, who is bi-racial in Miami. I think about Mike Tomlin, who has been in Pittsburgh for 17 years. Think about Todd Bowles, guys like this.
Eric Bieniemy Leaves The NFL For UCLA Bruins Offensive Coordinator Job
Bieniemy has extensive experience in coaching in the NFL and even has two Super Bowl titles as the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator.
Having won a pair of Super Bowls as the maestro of a spectacular offense in Kansas City would have likely netted another offensive coordinator a head coaching gig in the NFL, but it has simply not been the case with Bieniemy, who has decided to take his coaching talents back to college with the UCLA Bruins.
In the past, Smith would blame the NFL’s stance on hiring black coaches for the continued absence of NFL head coach on Bienemy’s resume, but this time, it appears he’s more convinced that it has to do more with Bienemy’s character and less with the color of his skin.
“I’m just looking at some of this stuff and saying to myself, What am I supposed to say for Eric Bieniemy at this point? He has been interviewed at least 15 times for 14 different head coaching jobs. And not one time has he walked away with the job. At some point in time, it has to be you. I’m not questioning his football acumen; I’m not questioning his resume. I’m saying that during the interview process, something has to be you if you have gotten 15 different interviews from 14 different franchises. And other Blacks have been hired and not you.