The New England Patriots reportedly interviewed former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy before deciding on Josh McDaniels to take over the offensive play-calling, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Bieniemy was most recently the offensive coordinator and associate head coach for the UCLA Bruins. However, he is most recognized for his work under Andy Reid as the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs.
He helped the organization win two Super Bowl championships during his time with the team. He also spent time working under Ron Rivera with the Washington Commanders in 2023.
The Patriots officially announced the hiring of McDaniels on January 22 in one of Mike Vrabel’s first major moves as head coach.
Veteran NFL OC Eric Bieniemy has spoken with multiple NFL teams and also interviewed for the #Patriots’ OC job before it went to Josh McDaniels, according to league sources.
The belief was that Bieniemy was a top candidate for the New England job, had McDaniels not been the… pic.twitter.com/pHX1R3BNlH
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 28, 2025
Bieniemy would have been an intriguing addition to a Patriots coaching staff that is stocked with talent. He has a championship pedigree, and he would have been paired with a promising young quarterback in Drake Maye.
Nevertheless, the Patriots’ coaching staff as currently constructed is well-positioned for the future.