Eric Bieniemy was widely expected to be one of the top head coaching candidates on the market this offseason, but the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers have already hired coaches.

The NFL has only two minority owners and one minority general manager.

“I think it’s discouraging, to say the least,” said Bieniemy’s agent, Brian Levy, who also represents several African American coaches in college and the NFL. “We’re really trying to find out what the standard is, and every year the standard changes. We’re just trying to swim against the current.”

Bieniemy has been offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs for the past two seasons.

“There’s no doubt every interview is an opportunity,” Levy said. “Years ago, I worked with Mike Tomlin and everybody suggested the odds were stacked against him getting the Pittsburgh or Miami job. But in the end, you take those interviews because you go in there and blow someone’s doors off, you can get hired.”