Latest news with #EricBieniemy
USA Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Eric Bieniemy, Chris Hudson named to 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Eric Bieniemy, Chris Hudson named to 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot Many Colorado football fans hope Deion Sanders is ushering in a new golden age of Colorado football. Still, before the current era under Coach Prime began, there were the Colorado teams of the early 1990s. On Monday, the golden era of CU football was honored with Eric Bieniemy and Chris Hudson being named to the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. Bieniemy, Colorado's all-time leading rusher, was the driving force behind the Buffaloes' 1990 national championship. That season, he earned a unanimous first-team All-American and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. Bieniemy still owns eight school records and was a two-time All-Big Eight selection. Chris Hudson, a cornerstone piece of Colorado's defense in the early 1990s, was a consensus first-team All-American in 1994 and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. Hudson finished his college career with 141 tackles, 15 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 20 pass breakups. Their nominations continue a proud tradition for Colorado, which has seen recent inductees such as Deon Figures (2025), Rashaan Salaam (2022) and Michael Westbrook (2020). The 2026 Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in December. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Chiefs coach Eric Bieniemy berates Bears players during rookie practice
Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy is already making a strong impression in his new role, as recent video shows him ripping his players during the team's rookie camp. Bieniemy, a two-time Super Bowl winner as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator, re-joined the NFL ranks this winter after one season as UCLA's assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. And the 55-year-old had some harsh words for Chicago's young running backs on Saturday, as he berated them in a now-viral clip. As the running backs went through a pass-catching drill with small hurdles at the end, Bienemy yelled at one player to 'pick your f***ing eyes up.' He then barked at another player after he apparently touched a cone. 'Why are you touching the f***ing cone?,' he asked. "Don't touch the cones!" - Eric Bieniemy applying pressure to his young RBs 🤬 — CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) May 10, 2025 Fans had a wide range of reactions to the moment as they took to X. 'holy s*** did not know EB was back in the league. chicago is so screwed next year,' one wrote. 'This is how he was talking too them kids at UCLA they did not like it haha,' a second added. However, a third added: 'I love when coaches coach!!!!' And a fourth said, 'Love it. Exactly what we need.' The tough-talking coach was linked with several head coaching jobs after playing a role in a prolific Kansas City offense which went on to win two Super Bowls. However, interviews with the likes of the Commanders, Colts and Falcons did not result in him getting a head coaching job, and he ultimately left the Chiefs following the 2022 season for the same job in Washington. There, his hard-nosed coaching style drew the ire of some players, with head coach Ron Rivera revealing at one point that players were struggling to adjust to Bieniemy's ways. He was ultimately let go by the team after Rivera was fired in early 2024. Notably, Bieniemy called plays in Washington, while that task was performed by head coach Andy Reid in Kansas City. His Washington offense, led by quarterback Sam Howell (who was a backup last season), finished just 25th in points. He'll have a young group of running backs to work with in Chicago, led by 26-year-old D'Andre Swift. The group also includes 2023 fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson and rookie seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers. The Bears finished just 25th in rushing yards per game last season, so Bieniemy certainly has his work cut out for him.
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears' new coaching staff has a much different tone
Bears' new coaching staff has a much different tone For all their offseason moves this year, the Chicago Bears' biggest addition is head coach Ben Johnson and the highly-regarded staff he's built around him. With the team kicking off rookie minicamp on Friday, not only were eyes on the rookie class that the team has brought in (both with their draft selections and signed undrafted free agents) but also their coaching staff, which apparently has stood out. Chicago's disastrous 2024 season was headlined by coaching incompetence, which would lead to several changes throughout the year including head coach Matt Eberflus being fired following a Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions. Eberflus' firing was the first time in franchise history that the team fired a coach during the season, and they quickly moved to hiring Ben Johnson this offseason, making the big splash in the coaching circle this year. Johnson wasted little time in building an experienced staff of assistants, with a mix of veteran and young coaches filling out the staff, and they're already making their presence known. Early observations from Friday's rookie minicamp practice noted that the tone from this coaching staff was much different, including running backs coach Eric Bieniemy who was very vocal. "One of the takeaways from today's practice was Bears RBs coach Eric Bieniemy," wrote Nicholas Moreano. "He has an edge to him when he coaches and demands the details are exact. Saw him get after RB Christian Grubb for walking after a drill. I wouldn't be surprised if we see an uptick from the entire RB group just because of Bieniemy." Zack Pearson seconded it: "I'll add to this. It's one practice but already this has the feel of a much more vocal and loud coaching staff in a good way for the wasn't much in terms of on field team drills. But coaches are very vocal in drills. Stood out right away." One of the takeaways from today's practice was #Bears RBs coach Eric Bieniemy. He has an edge to him when he coaches and demands the details are exact. Saw him get after RB Christian Grubb for walking after a drill. I wouldn't be surprised if we see an uptick from the entire… — Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) May 9, 2025 More observations from reporters on sight pointed out that while it was mainly drills taking place on Friday, the coaching staff was much more vocal than the last, and the tone around the team feels different. 'We call it rookie orientation. … It's a coach orientation for us this year, too,' Johnson said. 'It's our first time as a coaching staff to really have a practice format like that. It was fun to see them get after it and get to work a little bit. We've got a long ways to go, but [I'm] really happy with how the guys went out there and competed and learned … and look forward to seeing the progression there over the course of the weekend.' Johnson has done a good job early to come in and try to change the culture around this team and locker room, and that's being shown by his assistants on the first day of minicamp, which should increase optimism for the 2025 season. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid praises new Chicago Bears RB coach Eric Bieniemy
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid praises new Chicago Bears RB coach Eric Bieniemy The 2025 NFL owners meetings are underway, with Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and other representatives around the league taking over Florida. On Monday, Reid offered a ringing endorsement for the Chicago Bears' new running backs coach, former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Local Bears reporter Herb Howard posted the footage to social media. "He's (Bieniemy) the best at a lot of things; he was a great OC (offensive coordinator), great running back coach," said Reid, surrounded by a group of reporters. "He can coach, really, any position. They're lucky to have him. He's a tremendous leader. One of the best leaders (I have ever been around)." Bieniemy spent nine years as an assistant coach and coordinator with Kansas City before taking a job with the Washington Commanders to become their offensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the 2023 season. He was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the UCLA Bruins in 2024. The former NFL running back has been a consistent motivational support system for the Chiefs during his tenure as a coaching staff member, notably before the 2023 AFC Championship game. Team leaders Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce praised the moment that propelled them past the Baltimore Ravens in the game and eventually Super Bowl LVIII.
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.
