Former Chiefs Pro Bowler wants team to bring Eric Bieniemy back to KC
.JPG "Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, second to left, confers with quarterback Patrick Mahomes during an AFC Championship Game timeout at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 30.")
The UCLA football team on Thursday fired offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after one season with the Bruins, ESPN reported.
Bieniemy’s agent, however, said it was a mutual decision.
“Eric and UCLA mutually parted ways today as previously planned,” Jason Fletcher said in a statement, per the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “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.”
Before joining UCLA earlier this year, Bieniemy was the Commanders’ offensive coordinator. He took that job after spending five seasons as the Chiefs offensive coordinator, helping KC win a pair of Super Bowl championships.
Bieniemy hopes to return to the NFL, and former Chiefs Pro Bowl center Tim Grunhard would love to see him back in Kansas City.
“I hope that if Coach Bieniemy decides to return to the NFL,” Grunhard wrote on X, “the Chiefs consider bringing him back in some sort of role on the staff .. the guy brings a toughness and juice to the lockeroom / meeting room and the practice field!!!”
Former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson also thinks the Chiefs could benefit from Bieniemy’s return.
Johnson is not advocating for Bieniemy to replace Matt Nagy as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. But Bieniemy’s presence could boost the team.
“I would recommend to the great coach Andy Reid ... hey Eric Bieniemy, come on back over here and just come hang out with us a little bit and see how things can go,” Johnson said on Fox Sports’ “Speak.” “Much like he did last year with them for the Super Bowl. He was hanging around.”
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This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 8:51 AM.
