Washington Commanders: What Eric Bieniemy hire means for Ron Rivera

Last week the Washington Commanders made their first big move of the 2023 offseason. With their offensive coordinator position open, they landed Eric Bieniemy.

Bieniemy has already won multiple Super Bowls as the OC of the Kansas City Chiefs. That has led to most people wondering how he has yet to land a head coaching position. So for Washington to bring him on, it has to be considered a home run.

What does this mean for head coach Ron Rivera, though? Because there are two distinct ways to look at this.

First is the bleak outlook for Rivera. Washington has hired the guy that could replace him in a year or two. Bieniemy has been seen as a head coaching candidate for a while now. So you could argue that the Commanders have brought him in to get him prepared for their head coach position sooner rather than later.

The other scenario is much more positive for Rivera. Washington has brought in exactly what he needs. Rivera is a defensive-minded head coach with severe limitations offensively. Bieniemy is going to be given free rein of the offense.

Bieniemy is the guy that can turn things around for Washington. They have all the weapons on offense (outside of a proven quarterback). If someone’s unlocking the potential in Sam Howell, it’s Bieniemy. Imagine the wonders he can do with that insane receiver corps of Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Curtis Samuel.

Bieniemy gets Washington’s offense to take that step forward to be one of the best in football. Rivera is allowed to focus more on the players/team as a whole. Rivera has his weaknesses as a coach, but his character is hard to beat. Let him be a leader.

With Eric Bieniemy leading the offense, the Washington Commanders can be great. You could see this as a threat to Ron Rivera’s future as the head coach. But you could also see this as the hiring that saves Rivera’s tenure.