KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eric Bieniemy reportedly will interview with the Houston Texans today.
NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport tweeted Monday that the NFL and Chiefs made an exception that will allow Bieniemy to take part in the virtual interview despite the fact that Kansas City’s season isn’t over.
The #Texans are set to do a virtual interview with #Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy today, source said. Thanks to the NFL and KC allowing it, Houston doesn’t have to wait until after the playoffs.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2021
Bieniemy, who is in his third season as the Chiefs offensive coordinator, wasn’t initially a candidate in Houston.
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He interviewed during the Chiefs’ postseason bye week with five of the six teams who entered the offseason with a coaching vacancy, but the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets have hired other candidates or are expected to hire someone else.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who fired another former Chiefs offensive coordinator, Doug Pederson, last week, also have requested permission to interview Bieniemy.
Reports from Houston suggest Bieniemy was franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson’s preference for the job, but the club declined to interview him when he was available during the bye.
The Texans reached out belatedly to Bieniemy after hiring Nick Caserio from New England to become their general manager.
Watson, who was drafted two picks behind Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft and led the NFL in passing yards last season, signed a massive extension with Houston just four months ago.
But a 4-12 season and unhappiness with how ownership handled the hiring process for a new GM and head coach have fueled reports that Watson now wants to be traded from the Texans.
The Chiefs, who outlasted Cleveland 22-17 despite losing Mahomes when he was knocked from Sunday's AFC Divisional game in the third quarter, host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium.