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Diversity lip service only?

Bieniemy gets the brushoff, even under 'Rooney Rule'

Fred Jeter | 1/17/2020, 6 a.m.
Eric Bieniemy interviewed for three NFL head coaching positions this month and received the same answer from all three places ...
Eric Bieniemy

Eric Bieniemy interviewed for three NFL head coaching positions this month and received the same answer from all three places — thanks, but no thanks.

Over the last two years, he has interviewed for seven head coaching jobs (out of 12 openings) and is 0-7 in his efforts.

With Bieniemy a main focus, African-American candidates were shut out in the flurry of recent NFL head coach hirings.

Coaching carousel

Here are the latest NFL coaching changes:

• Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy replaces Jason Garrett

• Washington: Ron Rivera replaces Jon Gruden and interim Bill Callahan

• New York Giants: Joe Judge replaces Pat Shurmur

• Carolina Panthers: Matt Rhule replaces Ron Rivera

• Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski replaces Freddie Kitchens

There were five coaching changes in the NFL, with Caucasians replacing Caucasians in each case.

As a result, only three black coaches remain in the 32-team league despite 70 percent of NFL players being African- American.

Currently, there are two black general managers — Chris Grier with the Miami Dolphins and Andrew Berry, who recently was hired by the Cleveland Browns. There are no black owners, though numerous African-Americans hold front office and assistant coaching positions.

To be fair, Ozzie Newsome served as Baltimore’s general manager 16 years before announcing his retirement this sea- son. The Ravens are among the league’s strongest franchises.

Despite the “Rooney Rule,” which was devised to boost diversity in the NFL, the only African-American coaches are Mike Tomlin with the Pittsburgh Steel- ers, Anthony Lynn with the Los Angeles Chargers and Brian Flores with the Miami Dolphins.

Bieniemy, the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, interviewed for head coaching positions with the New York Giants, the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns.

Under head coach Andy Reid in Kansas City, Bieniemy has orchestrated a spectacular offense, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

In two seasons, Mahomes has passed for 9,412 yards and 76 touchdowns with only 18 interceptions. This past season, Mahomes threw for 4,031 yards and 26 touchdowns, leading the Chiefs to 12-4 record.

In 2018, Bieniemy’s attack scored the third most points in NFL history and Mahomes became only the second player in NFL annals (along with Peyton Manning) to throw for at least 50 touchdowns.

That eye-opening performance has earned Bieniemy plenty of interviews, but no head coaching job.

Bieniemy has had little to say about the failed interviews while the Chiefs pursue a trip to the Super Bowl.

“I had an opportunity to interview,” he told the Kansas City Star. “That’s about it. We’ve had some great conversations.”

The Rooney Rule, launched in 2003, requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and general manager jobs.

In 2003, there were three black head coaches, the same as now. Creating a rule doesn’t mean it changes a person’s mind or heart.

Mockingly, the Rooney Rule has come to be known as the “Token Negro Rule.”

“I think it’s discouraging to say the least,” Bieniemy’s agent, Brian Levy, told NBC Sports. “We’re really trying to find out what the standards are, and every year the standards change. We’re just trying to swim against the current.”

Also interviewing for the Browns’ vacancy was Robert Saleh, San Francisco’s defensive coordinator. Of Lebanese ancestry, Saleh is the first Arab-American to become a coordinator.

Bieniemy has received a full endorsement from Reid, who is among the NFL’s most successful head coaches. A 50-year-old native of New Orleans, Bieniemy was an All-American running back at the University of Colorado and a Heisman Trophy finalist.

The 5-foot-7, 207-pound speedster played nine NFL seasons before getting into coaching, first with his alma mater, Colorado, and then UCLA.

His first NFL job was with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006.

Bieniemy has been with Kansas City since 2013 and the Chiefs’ offensive co- ordinator for the past two seasons.

The dazzling offensive numbers in Kansas City don’t lie. Bieniemy has done about everything possible of an assistant coach shy of winning it all.

Bieniemy’s offense never looked more formidable than in the Chiefs’ 51-31 win over the Houston Texans last Sunday in the AFC playoff semifinals.

Now Kansas City awaits the Sunday arrival of the Tennessee Titans for the AFC title and a ticket to the Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Perhaps when Bieniemy interviews next season, as he’s likely to do, he’ll be wearing a shiny Super Bowl ring.

Other African-American coaches

Here are some other successful African-American coaches who eventually could become NFL head coaches, or return as such.

• Jim Caldwell, 64: Former head coach with the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions remains in the hunt.

• Byron Leftwich, 39: Offensive coordinator for Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

• Leslie Frazier, 60: Former Minnesota Vikings head coach, now the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator.

• Perry Fewell, 57: He was interim head coach for the Carolina Panthers following the firing of Ron Rivera.

• David Culley, 64: Wide receivers coach for the Baltimore Ravens.

• George Edwards, 52: Defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

• Thomas McGaughey, 46: Special teams coordinator for the New York Giants.

• Duce Staley, 44: Assistant head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Richard Hightower, 40: Special teams coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.

And from the college ranks, among the more prominent black coaches are Lovie Smith (University of Illinois), James Franklin (Penn State University), Herm Edwards (Arizona State University) and David Shaw (Stanford University).