EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eric Bieniemy, the coordinator of an offense that has been one of the NFL's most prolific for two seasons, this morning became the third candidate to interview for the Giants' head coaching position.
Bieniemy, 50, met in Kansas City with Giants president John Mara, general manager Dave Gettleman and vice president of football operations Kevin Abrams. The Chiefs host an AFC Divisional Playoff Game a week from tomorrow.
A former NFL running back, Bieniemy joins Dallas Cowboys defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach Kris Richard and former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy as candidates who have been interviewed.
Pat Shurmur was dismissed as Giants head coach on Monday.
Bieniemy has been on the Kansas City staff for seven years, the last two as offensive coordinator. This season, the Chiefs ranked fifth in the NFL in points-per-game (28.2) and sixth in yards-per-game (379.2). Kansas City won the AFC West title with a 12-4 record and earned the conference's No. 2 seed and a first-round postseason bye.
In 2018, the Chiefs led the league in both statistical categories with 31.5 points and 425.6 yards a game, finished 12-4 and was the AFC's top seed.
In Kansas City, Bieniemy does not call the plays, a duty that belongs to head coach Andy Reid. But Reid has consistently and publicly praised Bieniemy for his assistance in designing and implementing the Chiefs' offense. Bieniemy has also been instrumental in the development of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who in 2018 was named the NFL Most Valuable Player as he passed for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns in his first season as a starting quarterback. Travis Kelce ranked second among NFL tight ends with 1,336 receiving yards, and wide receiver Tyreek Hill's 1,479 yards was a single-season Chiefs record.
This year, Mahomes tossed 26 touchdown passes in 14 games, but saw his interception total drop from 12 to five. Kelce led all tight ends with 94 catches and 1,229 yards. Hill played in just 12 games but led Kansas City with seven touchdowns on 56 receptions.
Bieniemy has been with the Chiefs since 2013, when he began a five-year stint as the team's running backs coach in Reid's first year in Kansas City. From 2013-15, he mentored Jamaal Charles, who became the leading rusher in franchise history with 7,260 career rushing yards. In 2017, Kareem Hunt rushed for 1,327 yards and scored 11 total touchdowns.
Bieniemy began his coaching career at Thomas Jefferson High School in Colorado in 2000, one year after his final season as a player. In 2001, he moved to his alma mater, the University of Colorado, where he was the running backs coach for two years. Bieniemy held the same position at UCLA from 2003-05 and was also the recruiting coordinator his final year.
In 2006, Bieniemy began his NFL coaching career as the Minnesota Vikings' running backs coach, a position he held for five years. The Vikings produced a 1,000-yard rusher in every one of those seasons. In 2007, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor combined for 2,185 rushing yards (1,341 by Peterson, who was All-Pro as a rookie). Peterson set a then Vikings record with 1,760 yards in 2008.
Bieniemy returned to Colorado in 2011-12 as offensive coordinator and running backs coach, his final stop before joining the Chiefs.
Bieniemy was a second-round draft choice (39th overall) of the San Diego Chargers in 1991. He played four seasons each for the Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals and a final season for Reid in Philadelphia in the coach's debut season in 1999. In 142 career games, Bieniemy rushed for 1,589 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 146 passes for 1,223 yards. He played in Super Bowl XXIX in his final year with the Chargers.
At Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, Calif., Bieniemy earned second-team All-America honors as a senior, when he rushed for 2,002 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Bieniemy and his wife, Mia, have two sons, Eric III and Elijah.
View photos of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who interviewed for the Giants' head coach position.
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Detroit. The Chiefs defeated the Lions 34-30. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Chicago. The Chiefs defeated the Bears 26-3. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Detroit. The Chiefs defeated the Lions 34-30. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) talks to offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on the sideline against the New England Patriots during an AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 in Kansas City, MO. The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 37-31 in overtime. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on from the sideline against the New England Patriots during an AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 in Kansas City, MO. The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 37-31 in overtime. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy walks on the sideline during an NFL football against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in Cleveland. The Chiefs won 37-21. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy talks to the media before team workouts Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs host the New England Patriots in the NFL 's AFC football championship game Sunday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes listens to offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, right, as he warms up before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach Eric Bieniemy looks on during an NFL preseason football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, August 24, 2013, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Chiefs defeated the Steelers, 26-20. (AP Photo/Joe Robbins)
San Diego Chargers running back Eric Bieniemy (32) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs Oct. 9,1994, in San Diego, Calif. (NFL Photos via AP)
San Diego Chargers running back Eric Bieniemy (32) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks Oct. 30,1994, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)
San Diego Chargers running back Eric Bieniemy (32) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Raiders Dec. 20, 1992, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
San Diego Chargers running back Eric Bieniemy (32) is seen in action against the Kansas City Chiefs Oct. 9, 1994, in San Diego, Calif. (NFL Photos via AP)
San Diego Chargers running back Eric Bieniemy (32) is seen in action during a pre-season NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams Aug. 25, 1994, in San Diego, Calif. (NFL Photos via AP)
San Diego Chargers Eric Bieniemy (32) rushes upfield with the ball during an NFL game against the Miami Dolphins circa 1993. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
San Diego Chargers running back Eric Bieniemy (32) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs Oct. 9,1994, in San Diego, Calif. (NFL Photos via AP)
Colorado tailback Eric Bieniemy, left, meets with Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz in the Notre Dame lockerroom after the Buffaloes defeated the Fighting Irish, 10-9 in the 57th annual Orange Bowl Classic, Tuesday night, Jan. 1, 1991at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Bieniemy scored Colorado's only touchdown. (AP Photo/Wayne Fleisher)
Colorado's Eric Bieniemy leaps over a pileup of players for a touchdown. He was stopped short of the goal by Notre Dame in the second quarter of the Orange Bowl Monday night, Jan. 1, 1990 in Miami.(AP Photo/Todd Eddick)
Giants App
Download the Giants' official app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices
