Eric Bieniemy, the man who worked with the Kansas City Chiefs to develop Patrick Mahomes into “a better player,” will become the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at UCLA.
The 54-year-old, who won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs during a fruitful ten-year NFL career, is making a comeback to collegiate football. Bieniemy’s game has improved, as Mahomes has previously noted, although he is frequently passed over for head coaching positions.
Bieniemy was recently interviewed for the Washington Commanders head coaching position; however, Dan Quinn was selected for the role. Still, he’s eager to begin his new position at UCLA, which will be his first in a collegiate football position since he left Colorado in 2012.
In an email, Bieniemy wrote, “Southern California,” which ESPN saw. “I went there for high school. This is where I began my league career (with the Chargers). Of course, it’s wonderful to be back with the Bruins, where I was once working.”
Bieniemy was a running back in the NFL prior to becoming a coach. He played with the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles before being selected by the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Charges in the 1991 NFL Draft. He started his coaching career at Jefferson High School.
Bieniemy returned to his alma mater, coaching running backs at Colorado and UCLA before taking a similar position with the Minnesota Vikings. He was hired by the Vikings as an assistant head coach and then worked for Colorado.
In 2013, he began mentoring the Chiefs’ running backs, and by 2018, he was leading play-caller. He had two Super Bowl victories with the Chiefs.
Bieniemy relocated to the Commanders to assist head coach Ron Rivera in his role as offensive coordinator, but the two parted ways in 2023 following a difficult campaign. Bieniemy will now return to play football for UCLA in college.
Mahomes has praised Bieniemy highly in the past. When Rivera implied that the coach was overly hard on himself during practice last year, the coach faced criticism, which he later withdrew. Mahomes, though, was eager to support Bieniemy.
When questioned, Mahomes warned reporters, “EB is going to be harsh on you.” “Every day, he will strive to bring out the best in you. I became a better player as a result of him holding me accountable even when I didn’t want to.”
Currently a three-time Super Bowl MVP, Mahomes continued, saying: “I believe the most important thing he said was that he is your number one supporter. You must understand that he will fight with you in the same manner as any other member of your team.”