The Bears’ season came to a heartbreaker of an end at Soldier Field, where Harrison Mevis’ overtime field goal lifted the Rams past Chicago in a dramatic divisional-round finish. Just like that, Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach was over. But while the scoreboard didn’t swing their way, the Bears walk into the offseason with momentum-and plenty of eyes on what’s next.
Among the biggest storylines? Eric Bieniemy.
Currently serving as Chicago’s running backs coach, Bieniemy is once again becoming a name to watch in the NFL coaching carousel. And for good reason.
In his first season with the Bears, he helped engineer one of the league’s most effective ground games. Chicago finished third in total rushing yards and third in yards per carry (4.9), thanks in large part to the one-two punch of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, who combined for 14 rushing touchdowns.
That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed.
Bieniemy’s success in Chicago could vault him back into the conversation for an offensive coordinator role-and the Kansas City Chiefs may soon be in need of one.
Matt Nagy, currently the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, is reportedly a top candidate for the Tennessee Titans’ head coaching job, alongside Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Even if Nagy doesn’t land that gig, his contract in Kansas City is up, and there’s growing speculation that Andy Reid could be looking to make changes on his staff regardless. The Chiefs have already parted ways with both their running backs coach (Todd Pinkston) and wide receivers coach (Connor Embree), signaling a potential shake-up.
That opens the door for a possible reunion with Bieniemy.
Let’s not forget: Bieniemy knows the Chiefs system inside and out. He spent a decade in Kansas City-first as running backs coach, then as offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, after Nagy left to become head coach in Chicago.
Under Bieniemy’s guidance, the Chiefs’ offense was a juggernaut. In his five years as OC, Kansas City never finished lower than sixth in total yards or points, and they led the league multiple times in both categories.
That stretch included a Super Bowl win and the rise of Patrick Mahomes into a generational talent.
After parting ways with the Commanders in 2024, Bieniemy took a brief detour through the college ranks as UCLA’s associate head coach and offensive coordinator before joining Johnson’s staff in Chicago. Now, with the Bears’ season in the books and the coaching carousel spinning into full gear, Bieniemy's name is bound to come up.
The Bears may be heading into a pivotal offseason, but Bieniemy’s future could be just as intriguing. Whether he stays in Chicago or takes on a bigger role elsewhere, one thing’s clear: his impact on the Bears’ offense this season was real, and his résumé is once again too strong to ignore.