ESPN NEWS: Falcons are reportedly in Contract negotiation with a new head Coach target after fans furious reaction to Bill Belichick due to his age

With the Washington Commanders having lost seven straight games entering Week 18, and quarterback Sam Howell likely playing his way out of being a long-term answer at the position, it appears increasingly unlikely that offensive coordinator/assistant coach Eric Bieniemy will be promoted to replace Ron Rivera in 2024. That doesn’t rule out the possibility of Bieniemy finally getting his long-awaited chance to manage a club in 2024.

Bieniemy, according to Cam Marino, “is expected to be on the Atlanta Falcons immediate short list” if the team makes its own coaching change. It’s unclear whether Falcons owner Arthur Blank intends to remove coach Arthur Smith after Week 18, but the chance exists. The Falcons arguably overachieved under Smith, finishing 7-10 in each of their first two seasons, but have failed to advance in a lackluster NFC South in 2024. To win the NFC South, the Falcons would need to beat both the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. If they lose to the Saints, they will finish 7-10 for the third consecutive season. Atlanta doesn’t have a clear quarterback strategy moving forward, and Smith has routinely failed to get the most out of tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London, and running back Bijan Robinson.

If Bieniemy and Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot can reach an agreement on a quarterback strategy, there will be a lot to like about Atlanta as a landing location. There’s already a lot of offensive talent to work with. It would be surprising if Washington didn’t let Rivera go after a dismal season of their own. Bieniemy, like Rivera, was inherited by Josh Harris’ ownership group, thus he should at least get an interview for the Commanders job. Harris may want to make a splash with an established coach and/or general manager, whether it’s Bill Belichick or someone else, to put his stamp on the franchise.
In terms of what comes next, Bieniemy stated this week that all he is concerned with is helping the Commanders end their losing skid and finish with a victory over NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys.