The Chiefs have officially hired Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to become their new offensive coordinator, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Wednesday.
Jordan Schultz had reported on Monday that Bieniemy was expected to return to Kansas City, and the hiring is now official. Bieniemy returns to the Chiefs’ organization, where he spent ten seasons between 2013 and 2022.
The Bears hired Bieniemy to be their running backs coach soon after hiring Ben Johnson to become their new head coach in 2025.
Chicago’s run game was one of the best in the league, as they were the only team in the NFL to have two players with over 750 rushing yards. D’Andre Swift had a career-high 1,087 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns, while Kyle Monangai finished with 783 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns as a seventh-round rookie.
Having served as the running backs coach for the Chiefs from 2013 to 2017, Bieniemy oversaw strong play from the likes of Jamaal Charles and Kareem Hunt. When then-offensive coordinator Matt Nagy left to become the head coach of the Bears, Bieniemy took his place as the head of the Chiefs’ offense.
In his five seasons as the OC for Kansas City, the Chiefs won two Super Bowls and made three Super Bowl appearances. Patrick Mahomes was a two-time MVP, and the team made it to the AFC Championship all five years. Bieniemy reunited with the likes of Mahomes, Andy Reid, and potentially Travis Kelce, if he chooses to return.
Chicago will now be on the hook for finding a new running backs coach this offseason. They recently added Boston College offensive coordinator Will Lawing to their coaching staff, though the exact role is undetermined. Lawing’s background comes coaching tight ends, and he and Ben Johnson were teammates at North Carolina.
