Eric Bieniemy was probably one of the biggest surprise additions to the Chicago Bears coaching staff in January. He’d spent the past several years as an offensive coordinator in various locations. There was no reason to think he would be interested in taking over a position group again. So when he signed on as the Bears’ running backs coach, it was considered a major coup. Bieniemy has a long history of coaching that position. He won a national championship in college playing it. Then, he developed future stars like Maurice Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson. One person who knows about him is Andy Reid.
The Kansas City Chiefs head coach worked with Bieniemy from 2013 through 2022. Together, they went to three Super Bowls and won two. During that time, the young coach developed future Pro Bowler Kareem Hunt before taking over the offense in 2018, where he instantly elevated Patrick Mahomes to superstar. Reid was asked by Herb Howard at the NFL Owners Meetings this week about what the Bears are getting with Bieniemy. The future Hall of Famer didn’t mince words.
They’re getting the best running backs coach in the business and an elite leader.
Andy Reid is biased, but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
One merely has to look at a person’s track record to judge whether he’s good at what he does. Bieniemy has found success everywhere he’s been as an assistant coach. He elevated Jones-Drew and Peterson, as mentioned before. He also helped the Chiefs pinpoint eventual Super Bowl heroes Damien Williams and Isiah Pacheco. In five seasons together, Mahomes had a 106.0 passer rating under Bieniemy. In the two years following his departure, the Chiefs quarterback dipped to 93.0
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What Andy Reid said wasn’t lip service. Bieniemy is a damn good football coach. The key issue for some is his leadership style. He’s known for taking a tough-love approach to players. He works them hard and is vocally demanding of them. Most would consider him a hard ass. Then again, after what the Bears went through with Matt Eberflus and his staff, Bieniemy might be exactly the type of coach they need.
Really interested in what’s Swift does with better coaching and running behind a good Oline. Give him some holes to use his speed. He could have a career year. Might surprise some people. Not writing him off after 1 season behind the worst line in the league.
Yes, they did. Bienemy is the real deal. Now if Coach Johnson just dumps Swift and Travis NoBody and brings in a couple of legit RBs we should have a good run game. Because Johnson’s running playbook is a proven winner.
P.S. I was “married” in Estes Park on a mountain side just NW of Boulder. Quiz next week.
Now get my Eric B. Enemy two very good RBs. Don’t waste him with Swift and Homer.
It has always amused me a little to see nfl coaches that require discipline and nonstop workouts get all Huge like Big Andy and Coach B and McCarthy and Daboll, and anyone that coached under Belichek that wasn’t named Josh McDaniels . I’m sure a ot of it is endless time in the office and eating bad food everyday!! I do think the Bears got a good coach with Eric B and then entire coaching staff is dramatically better than what we have seen here since Lovie was coaching!
I followed my Eric B. Enemy since his first days in Boulder. I saw him play many times. Good player, great coach.