Could Chiefs bring Eric Bieniemy back around team like last year?

Jesse Newell, The Kansas City Star on Dec 6, 2024

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was fired by UCLA on Thursday, leaving him in a similar situation to last year:

As a coaching free agent.

Back then, when Bieniemy was about to be let go as the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator, he received permission to come back around the Chiefs’ facility. Coach Andy Reid said in a Super Bowl media session that Bieniemy spoke to the team before last season’s AFC championship game and also joined the team in meetings.

So could there be a similar reunion with Bieniemy at the end of this season with the Chiefs, as he awaits his next coaching opportunity?

“I haven’t even gone that direction. I haven’t thought about it,” Reid said Friday. “He’s dealing with all that stuff (with his firing), and that’s where his mind needs to be.”

Reid said he had spoken with Bieniemy since Thursday, when UCLA let him go.

“That’s a load to handle, just in itself,” Reid said. “So we’ll just leave it there.”

Bieniemy was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator from 2018-22, winning two Super Bowls with the team during that time. He also was the team’s running backs coach for the five seasons before that.

On Thursday, Bieniemy’s agent, Jason Fletcher, released a statement saying Bieniemy’s focus was to coach in the pros next season.

“The plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025,” Fletcher said, “and he’s looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”