Ben Johnson has been steadily piecing together an impressive coaching staff for the Chicago Bears. He already hired one of the top defensive coordinator options available, luring Dennis Allen. He also added Antwaan Randle El to handle the wide receivers and Al Harris for the defensive backs. Both are highly regarded across the NFL. Now Johnson has struck again, this time grabbing two-time Super Bowl champion Eric Bieniemy to take over the running back position.
Bieniemy was a huge part of Patrick Mahomes’ ascend to NFL stardom in Kansas City, winning two championships together. He’d hoped to give his head coaching dreams a nudge by moving to Washington, where he’d call plays. Unfortunately, that didn’t go as planned. He was fired after one season and then parted ways with UCLA after handling their offensive coordinator job for a year. Now he’s coming back to the NFL, reuniting with Ryan Poles, who worked with him for years in Kansas City.
Ben Johnson benefits from the Bieniemy hire in several ways.
For starters, it adds championship experience to the staff. He’s been on two teams that managed to win it all and knows the necessary work and sacrifices it takes to get there. Secondly, Bieniemy is a terrific running backs coach. He oversaw the drafting and development of Adrian Pederson into a superstar with the Minnesota Vikings. Then, with the Chiefs, he got a career-best season out of Jamaal Charles in 2013 and then oversaw the drafting and development of Kareem Hunt into a Pro Bowler.
Last but not least, Bieniemy brings insurance. While Ben Johnson might be the play caller, there is a possibility offensive coordinator Declan Doyle could get poached by another team if the offense has success in the near future. The Bears head coach must be prepared for that possibility. Bieniemy was a coordinator for six years in Kansas City and is familiar with not calling the plays in that role. It is a perfect succession plan for Chicago.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
I have fallen back on Bienemy, but I’ve always argued to redundancy. This allows Johnson to promote, demote, fire or lose coaches to coaching. Bieniemy has developed a reputation as some who is hard to work for, but how is his mind for schemes?
It gives both the Bears and Eric a chance to reset.
Jamaal Charles was coaching. Kareem Hunt was coaching. Adrian Peterson was all Adrian Peterson.
@VeekReaks See, all that unclever writing just proved your inferiority to me. I must have a real impact on you, for the good. I do not read much if any of your or other hyena comments unless I skim your mention of TGena or myself. You are simply not interesting or knowledgeable enough to teach me anything. In just about any major sport, skillful or academic competition, I would likely trounce you and I have the awards to prove it. Truth does not blush, Vitro. (I never have liked anybody who had a name starting with a V.)
In the sprawling tsetse-infested savanna of Sally’s mind, he prowls with arrogance. And though he believes himself to be the sovereign of the plains, his mane is but a fake coarse fringe, and his roar nothing more than an annoying bray echoing from the trees (a steppe buzzard, perhaps.) While dismissing the cackles of others he refers to as hyenas, he mistakes their wisdom for jealousy. His actions expose a truth he denies – his misplaced sense of bravado is nothing without the clout to back it up! And so, while he is a so-called lion in his own tale,… Read more »
It takes an army of Hyenas to hold us few strong, intelligent, and extremely handsome Lions back!
I hope my HC BEN rids the team of local Kramer (v. Kramer) and give the roster spot to a deserving player based on talent and merit.
D’Andre Swift is either packing his bags — or learning to run.like a man.
Some of you will probably miss him.