Report: Chicago Bears to hire Eric Bieniemy as running backs coach

Eric Bieniemy is returning to the NFL. He is set to become the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported.

Bieniemy spent the 2024 season as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at UCLA after a year as the OC for the Washington Commanders. He made a name for himself under Andy Reid with the Kansas City Chiefs, starting as running backs coach from 2013-17 before moving up to offensive coordinator from 2018-22. He was part of two Super Bowls in Kansas City before heading to Washington and UCLA.

It marks another big hire for new Bears coach Ben Johnson, who has a mix of young up-and-coming coaches with experience. Former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen is coming in as defensive coordinator while Denver Broncos tight ends coach Declan Doyle will take over as a first-time offensive coordinator. Johnson plans to call plays for Caleb Williams and the offense.

After UCLA’s season ended, Bieniemy made it clear he planned to return to the NFL. His agent Jason Fletcher said that was his intention after spending a year back at the college level under first-year coach DeShaun Foster.

“Eric and UCLA mutually parted ways today as previously planned,” Fletcher told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero in December. “He’s still getting paid by the Commanders. After interviewing for head coaching jobs last year, he wanted to stay active and busy. So, he decided to go help out Deshaun Foster, who is like his little brother, at UCLA as opposed to sitting out a year. The plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025, and he’s looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”

This story will be updated.

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