Eric Bieniemy Returns To NFL, Hired To Chicago Bears Coaching Staff

It was just a few years ago that Eric Bieniemy was thought to be one of the next hot NFL head coaching candidates. He was the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs during Patrick Mahomes’ rise to stardom, and it was thought that it was his influence that helped the team win two Super Bowls during his tenure.

Eric Bieniemy Returns To The NFL To Be RB Coach In Chicago

But Bieniemy was passed over by teams around the league on multiple occasions, and eventually left Kansas City in a lateral move. He instead became the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Washington Commanders for the 2023 campaign, a job that lasted just one season. Under his command and play calling, Washington’s offense finished 24th in the league in yards allowed and 25th in points, and he was not retained by Dan Quinn during the franchise’s regime change.

Bieniemy tried his hand in the college ranks this past season, but the results were poor. He was named the associate head coach and offensive coordinator of the UCLA football team for 2024, looking to reestablish his name in the coaching ranks at the next level. His offense ranked 126th in the country in points scored, however, and the Bruins finished with a 5-7 record. Bieniemy was dismissed in early December.

Bears are hiring former UCLA assistant HC and OC Eric Bieneimy as their running backs coach, as @jjones9 reported. Bieniemy now returns to the NFL. pic.twitter.com/jOV51FFBDK

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 1, 2025

He’s been given another chance in the NFL. On Saturday, it was announced that the 55-year-old coach was hired by the Chicago Bears to be the team’s running backs coach. It is a position that he has held for two other NFL teams in his coaching career, including his first five years in Kansas City. Bieniemy is one of the first hires to new head coach Ben Johnson’s staff, as there are now just two coaches that remain from the Eberflus regime.

Eric Bieniemy has been in the coaching ranks since 2001. He got his first NFL job in 2006 as the running backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings under Brad Childress, and had a stop with the University of Colorado before landing his job with the Chiefs in 2013. He played nine years in the NFL, and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting back in 1990.