Commanders fire Eric Bieniemy, coach Dan Quinn says

ASHBURN, Va. – The Washington Commanders have fired offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after one season with the team, coach Dan Quinn said during his introductory news conference.

Bieniemy was considered a distant return, but that move became official when Washington hired Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator Sunday night. Quinn said he told Bieniemy the news in person on Monday.

“We won’t work together here,” Quinn said. “[but] I wanted him to know that I really respect the work he does. I wish him nothing but the best.”

Bieniemy joined Ron Rivera's staff last offseason after five years as offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs who won two Super Bowl championships.

In Washington, multiple sources said players were chafing under Bieniemy's leadership, but more than that, the offense continued a years-long struggle. The Commanders ranked 25th in scoring and 24th in yards. They were worse in both areas compared to the previous season.

But in 2023, Washington also started quarterback Sam Howell, who entered with just one start the year before as a rookie. The Commanders also had a revamped offensive line that was not considered a strength, something team officials privately acknowledged.

However, a team source said late in the year that the problems were compounded by Bieniemy's desire to throw the ball: Washington led the league with 636 pass attempts this season.

Not that the offensive struggles are new: Washington now ranks 20th or lower in yards and points for six straight seasons.

Enter Kingsbury. Quinn coached against Kingsbury when he was defensive coordinator at Florida in 2012 and Kingsbury was offensive coordinator at Texas A&M. The Gators won 20-17. They later met at an awards show and, Quinn said, “they hit it off.”

Quinn said he hired Kingsbury for the same reason he hired Kyle Shanahan for a similar position with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015.

“It was difficult to face him,” Quinn said. “He was spreading the field horizontally and vertically, and facing Cliff, the same feelings you had: it's going to be difficult, the formation of the confrontations, the rapid shots on the field, the aggression, the audacity. As coach, you were writing down some names., this is something in your future, if I get this photo, this is someone I would want to talk to.

“I know people talk about his savvy with quarterbacks and it's proven. But he's also a great coach, not just the guy who has to be with the quarterbacks all the time.”

Washington has the second pick in the draft and is widely expected to select a quarterback; Kingsbury would play a key role in the player's development.

The Commanders also hired Joe Whitt Jr. as Quinn's defensive coordinator. Quinn said Whitt would call the defensive signals. Whitt spent a year with Quinn in Atlanta and the last three with him in Dallas, as passing game coordinator.

“Just seeing the details, the connection, the style of play,” Quinn said. “To play good defense, you better be a good tackle team, you better get the ball. Those are two things that the units he's been tasked with have been great at over the last three years.”

The Dallas Cowboys led the NFL with 93 takeaways over the last three seasons.

For Quinn, Washington represents a second chance. He spent five full seasons with Atlanta before being fired five games into his sixth year. The Falcons reached the Super Bowl in his second season, taking a 28-3 lead against the New England Patriots – only to lose in overtime.

Since leaving Atlanta, Quinn said he has repeated five words: “If I get another chance.” He said there were lessons learned that he wanted to apply.

“Once you learn these lessons,” he said, “all you want to do is grab them, run and prove it. Let me tell you, I'm ready to run and prove it .

“I wanted to find potential blind spots… sometimes trying to do too much. I'm a much stronger coach today than when I took over in Atlanta.”

General manager Adam Peters, hired last month, will be football's top executive, allowing Quinn to focus on coaching. Quinn said he learned to delegate more as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator over the past three years. And Quinn wants Whitt to call the plays so he can oversee the team rather than focusing on one side of the ball.

This is also what the front office and Washington shareholders want. Peters said they didn't hire Quinn just to improve the defense.

“He’s without a doubt one of the best leaders in the NFL,” Peters said. “You can ask anyone who's been around him, coaches, players, he's a top communicator, a great teacher and developer, not only to the players but to the coaches, and he's intelligent, he's motivated. ..he's going to lead this team the right way.”