Latest news with #Bieniemy
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears HC Ben Johnson explains what to expect from Eric Bieniemy
Bears HC Ben Johnson explains what to expect from Eric Bieniemy New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson built an experienced, respected and talented coaching staff around him. One of the biggest names joining Johnson is Eric Bieniemy, who was hired as the team's running backs coach after a year away from the NFL. Back in the NFL coaching ranks this year, Bieniemy will work with D'Andre Swift and the rest of the Bears' running backs looking to reestablish a powerful run game in Chicago. In his first year with the Bears, Swift disappointed, to a degree, rushing for just 959 yards and six touchdowns, although he wasn't all to blame as the Bears struggled with inconsistent offensive line play. During the NFL Owners Meetings, Johnson spoke to reporters about the hiring of Bieniemy, where he didn't beat around the bush and was very clear about what he feels Bieniemy is going to bring to the running back group. "He's going to coach the piss out of these running backs now," Johnson said, via Courtney Cronin. "That's what he does. Everybody that texted me after we hired him, I had probably half a dozen people that have worked with him in the past and they said, you just hired the best running backs coach in the NFL." Being labeled the best running backs coach in the NFL is quite the praise for Bieniemy. And if he comes even a little close to that proclamation, Chicago's run game should be in good shape. There has been plenty of speculation around what the Bears will do with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, including whether they're in a position to land top running back prospect Ashton Jeanty. With Johnson's previous running game success in Detroit, with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, combined with Bieniemy leading the way from a coaching standpoint, the Bears are not only expected to improve their rushing attack, but add to the room as well with one of their picks in this year's draft.
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Andy Reid explains what Bears are getting in Eric Bieniemy
Andy Reid explains what Bears are getting in Eric Bieniemy The Chicago Bears have been making changes all offseason, including with their coaching staff under new head coach Ben Johnson. One of Johnson's best hires was former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as running backs coach. Bieniemy most recently served as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at UCLA last season, but he boasts plenty of NFL experience including stops as offensive coordinator with the Chiefs (2018-22) and Washington Commanders (2023), where he also served as an assistant head coach. But a bulk of Bieniemy's coaching experiences comes as a running backs coach, which makes him a big get for Chicago. Bieniemy's former boss, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, had nothing but praise for his former colleague during media availability at the NFL Owner's Meetings on Monday, where he explained what the Bears can expect from Bieniemy. 'He's the best at a lot of things," Reid said. "He was a great OC, great running back coach. He can coach, really, any position. They're lucky to have him. He's a tremendous leader. One of the best leaders (I've ever been around).' Bieniemy's experience and leadership is exactly what this Chicago running back group needs as they look to get back to their productive ways following a down year. Right now, D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson are the main backs, but the expectation is that'll change in the 2025 NFL draft given the deep draft class.
USA Today
27-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears RB coach Eric Bieniemy shares plan for D'Andre Swift
Bears RB coach Eric Bieniemy shares plan for D'Andre Swift The Chicago Bears have a new coaching staff, led by head coach Ben Johnson, who will lead the charge in turning around a team that extremely disappointed last season. Several factors hurt the Bears in the 2024 season, whether it was coaching ineptitude, offensive line struggles, rookie moments from Caleb Williams, a defense that just got ruined late in the year, or one of the biggest issues, the running game. D'Andre Swift, who signed a three-year, $24 million deal last offseason, came to Chicago to be the lead back and severely disappointed in his first year. Swift was coming off a 1,049 yard season with the Philadelphia Eagles, his first 1,000-yard season. But he fell just short of repeating the feat with 959 yards with the Bears in 2024. This offseason, the Bears hired veteran offensive coach Eric Bieniemy as their running backs coach, and he's got a plan to help Swift rebound in 2025. Bieniemy wants to help Swift realize that he can pick up medium gains, and have home run ability as well. 'Now, more than anything, we gotta make sure that he understands that he can find four and a half between the tackles but also hit the home run when he needs to," Bieniemy said on the Chicago Bears Podcast. Not all of the rushing attack failures are solely on Swift, as the Bears had a well-documented offensive line that struggled to succeed in any aspect. With Johnson leading the charge, a new position coach in Bieniemy, and a brand new interior offensive line, Swift should be one of the many Bears players in line to have a bounce back year.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots reportedly interviewed big-name OC before hiring Josh McDaniels
The New England Patriots reportedly interviewed former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy before deciding on Josh McDaniels to take over the offensive play-calling, according to FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Bieniemy was most recently the offensive coordinator and associate head coach for the UCLA Bruins. However, he is most recognized for his work under Andy Reid as the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs. He helped the organization win two Super Bowl championships during his time with the team. He also spent time working under Ron Rivera with the Washington Commanders in 2023. The Patriots officially announced the hiring of McDaniels on January 22 in one of Mike Vrabel's first major moves as head coach. Bieniemy would have been an intriguing addition to a Patriots coaching staff that is stocked with talent. He has a championship pedigree, and he would have been paired with a promising young quarterback in Drake Maye. Nevertheless, the Patriots' coaching staff as currently constructed is well-positioned for the future. Two-time Super Bowl-winning assistant not returning to Patriots Last remaining Belichick officially moving on from Patriots Mike Vrabel's detailed reason for bringing Josh McDaniels back to Patriots This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots reportedly interviewed big-name OC before hiring Josh McDaniels
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots reportedly interviewed big-name OC before hiring Josh McDaniels
The New England Patriots reportedly interviewed former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy before deciding on Josh McDaniels to take over the offensive play-calling, according to FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Bieniemy was most recently the offensive coordinator and associate head coach for the UCLA Bruins. However, he is most recognized for his work under Andy Reid as the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs. He helped the organization win two Super Bowl championships during his time with the team. He also spent time working under Ron Rivera with the Washington Commanders in 2023. The Patriots officially announced the hiring of McDaniels on January 22 in one of Mike Vrabel's first major moves as head coach. Veteran NFL OC Eric Bieniemy has spoken with multiple NFL teams and also interviewed for the #Patriots' OC job before it went to Josh McDaniels, according to league sources. The belief was that Bieniemy was a top candidate for the New England job, had McDaniels not been the… — Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 28, 2025 Bieniemy would have been an intriguing addition to a Patriots coaching staff that is stocked with talent. He has a championship pedigree, and he would have been paired with a promising young quarterback in Drake Maye. Nevertheless, the Patriots' coaching staff as currently constructed is well-positioned for the future.
