UCLA has moved on from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shared a statement from Bieniemy’s agent, Jason Fletcher, who said this was a mutual decision and “previously planned.”
“He’s still getting paid by the Commanders,” Fletcher said. “After interviewing for head coaching jobs last year, he wanted to stay active and busy. So, he decided to go help out Deshaun Foster, who is like his little brother, at UCLA as opposed to sitting out a year. The plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025, and he’s looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”
Bieniemy joined the Bruins staff ahead of the 2024 season. Their offense ranked 117th in yards (328.8) and 126th in scoring (18.4 points) as the team went 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten.
UCLA lost its leading passer from 2023, Dante Moore, which was a big blow because the 5-star recruit figured to be a big part of the offense long term. Leading rusher TJ Harden returned, though, as did the top three pass catchers (wide receivers Logan Loya and J. Michael Sturdivant and tight end Moliki Matavao). Senior quarterback Ethan Garbers had some starting experience.
In addition, promoting Foster from running backs coach to head coach as Chip Kelly’s replacement provided some continuity.
Nobody expected the Bruins to be an elite offensive unit, but they certainly shouldn’t have been near the bottom of the FBS.
Even though this was all by design, it’s hard to see how the brief time he spent at UCLA helped to boost Bienemy’s coaching stock.
Only a few seasons ago, he was considered a can’t-miss candidate for whatever vacancy opened up in the NFL. He won two Super Bowls as offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, and the team was top five in yards and points in all but one of his five years in that role.
When the time came for Bieniemy to leave Kansas City, though, he made a lateral move and joined the Washington Commanders as their OC in 2023. The Commanders’ offense steadily went backward as the regular season unfolded, and he wasn’t retained by newly hired head coach Dan Quinn this past spring.
Now Bieniemy is back on the coaching market after having had two chances to prove he can succeed outside of the Chiefs ecosystem and struggled each time. Based on his résumé, he should be able to get another job in the NFL this offseason, but it feels like he’s stuck having to prove himself all over again if he still aspires to be a head coach.
