Eric Bieniemy, previously with the Kansas City Chiefs, is embarking on his first season with the Washington Commanders.
The Commanders struggled offensively last year, which is why they are thrilled to have Bieniemy on their team, considering his successful Super Bowl win.
However, head coach Ron Rivera admitted that some players expressed concerns about Bieniemy’s intensity and even requested a meeting with him to address the issue.
Now, former player LeSean McCoy is speaking out about his experience with Bieniemy.
McCoy believes that Bieniemy’s aggressive approach does not resonate well with modern athletes.
When asked about this storyline on “The Herd” on FS1, McCoy revealed that he was taken aback by how Bieniemy interacted with the players during their time together in Kansas City.
“I was part of that Kansas City Chiefs championship team, and it was terrible,” McCoy said. “One of the first things I noticed is how he talks to the players.”
.@CutonDime25 on Eric Bieniemy:
"I was part of that Kansas City Chiefs championship team… One of the first things I noticed is how he talks to the players." pic.twitter.com/fJXYousp2z
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) August 9, 2023
McCoy, who played a limited role on the Chiefs’ championship team, pointed out that head coach Andy Reid adjusted his coaching style when they transitioned from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Chiefs.
However, McCoy noted that Bieniemy was unwilling to adapt his disciplinarian approach.
According to McCoy, Reid’s strength lies in his ability to relate to and adjust with players, something he believes Bieniemy lacks.
McCoy argues that Bieniemy’s coaching style is reminiscent of older times when coaches would yell and curse at players, which he believes is not effective in today’s game.
“You got to change with the times,” McCoy said. “I think with Bieniemy, he’s still stuck in that old, ‘back in the days’ where the coach is cussing the players out. That’s not how it’s played nowadays.”
“If you notice, all the players he has issues with, fights with, arguments on the sidelines … if you notice when the players speak of Eric Bieniemy, they say He’s a really good coach. He’s disciplined. He cares. He has your back. They don’t say nothing about how he’s teaching them, how he’s making them better. Because he didn’t do a lot of that, when I was with him I didn’t see a lot of that.”
McCoy also highlighted that players speak positively about Bieniemy’s character and discipline, but they rarely mention his teaching or developmental skills.
In the past, McCoy has cited Bieniemy’s intense demeanor as the reason why he hasn’t been able to secure a head coaching position.
“There’s a reason why every year they keep hyping him up to get a head coaching job, or an offensive coordinator job somewhere else, and he don’t get one,” McCoy said last May on the “I Am Athlete” podcast.
“He talks to players a certain way, and some players would take it. I wouldn’t take it. There’s some questions I’m gonna ask. Everyone’s accountable.
“It’s not because he’s a black coach [that he’s not getting hired]. That’s not the reason.”
He emphasizes that it’s not because Bieniemy is a black coach, but rather due to his communication style. McCoy concludes his professional football career with impressive rushing and receiving statistics.
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