Bieniemy deserves chance at top job, says Chiefs CEO

Kansas City Chiefs chair and CEO Clark Hunt once shared his disappointment that offensive co-ordinator Eric Bieniemy hadn’t yet secured an NFL headcoaching position elsewhere. That was at Super Bowl LIV.

Three seasons later, Hunt’s disappointment remains.

“I wouldn’t say it’s grown,” Hunt said Tuesday, “because I knew what a great coach Eric was at that point and thought he would get an opportunity … At this point, he’s maybe been through too many hiring cycles and it’s almost become a little bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy that he’s not getting the opportunity.”

Bieniemy has had multiple interviews for head coaching jobs over the years, most recently with Indianapolis last month. And he is a wanted man elsewhere. Tennessee and Washington requested to interview him for their vacant offensive co-ordinator positions. But that elusive head-coaching position is still his No. 1 desire.

“Do I believe I’m qualified? Yes, I do,” Bieniemy said after his interview with the Colts.

Mama’s boys

Donna Kelce brought cookies to Super Bowl opening night on Monday. The mother of all-pros Travis and Jason Kelce surprised her sons during an interview with two batches of cookies — one for each.

"It's just been amazing that they've both been able to get to this point in their careers and both enjoy the Super Bowl together," Donna said.

The Kelces are the first brothers to face each other in the Super Bowl, Travis as a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, Jason as a centre for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Donna has become a minor celebrity while criss-crossing the U.S. to watch her boys. More than 150,000 fans signed a petition for the NFL to have her do the Super Bowl coin toss, but she said in a social media post that the NFL already had someone in place.

Around the league

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr will visit the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, two people with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday. One person termed the visit as “exploratory in nature.” If the Saints and Raiders agree to a deal, they have until Feb. 15 to work out the details. That's when Carr's contract will become guaranteed and he will be owed $40.4 million (U.S.) over the next two years ... The San Francisco 49ers are hiring former Carolina interim head coach Steve Wilks as their new defensive co-ordinator, according to a person familiar with the choice. Wilks had served as defensive co-ordinator in Cleveland and Carolina before going 6-6 as the interim coach of the Panthers this season.