Eric Bienemy all about getting the best out of players, just ask Patrick Mahomes-ZoomTech News

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is one of the best QB of his technology. Of all of the coaches Mahomes has had all through his soccer profession, he credit Eric Bieniemy – who served because the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator from 2018-2022 and is within the technique of finalizing a deal to turn out to be UCLA’s offensive coordinator – with a lot of his success.

“EB goes to be harsh on you,” Mahomes said final August. “He’ll actually try to get one of the best out of you each single day. He’ll maintain you accountable when you do not need to carry your self accountable.[His coaching] made me a greater participant.

“There is a motive why he is teaching you the best way he is teaching you – he loves you,” insisted Mahomes. “He loves each man that he coaches. You possibly can see that [from] all the blokes which have come out and mentioned stuff about him: Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, Tyreek [Hill] — they perceive that he loves you, and he will attempt to get one of the best out of you each single day.”

That — proper there, simply above — is the place I choose to begin any dialog round Bieniemy, particularly surrounding his resolution to go away the NFL, return near house and lead DeShaun Foster’s Bruins into battle within the Large Ten. And whereas the dialog across the 54-year-old Bieniemy this fall will nearly solely be result-driven, it is necessary to notice that he is in uncommon air, having received each a nationwide championship as a participant and a number of Tremendous Bowls as a coordinator.

Bieniemy was a standout working again throughout his four-year collegiate profession on the College of Colorado. He was a first-team All-American choice in 1990, serving to information the Buffaloes to a nationwide championship. He went on to take pleasure in a nine-year NFL profession, the place he performed for the Chargers, Bengals and Eagles. So, it is becoming that probably the greatest working backs in UCLA historical past, Foster, employed the 1990 Large 8 Offensive Participant of the Yr and 1,600-yard rusher to run his offense.

Following his taking part in days, Bieniemy had teaching stops in each faculty and the NFL, together with a stint because the Bruins’ working backs coach from 2003-05.  All of this, after all, got here earlier than he was named the OC in Kansas Metropolis in 2018 and helped Andy Reid remodel Mahomes from a gifted QB at Texas Tech to the face of the most well-liked sport in america. 

Bieniemy’s ascent in teaching appeared to reflect Mahomes’ upward trajectory in Kansas Metropolis. And after the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to win their second Tremendous Bowl in three years, Bieniemy was regarded as on an inventory of coordinators — not to mention Black coordinators — anticipated to turn out to be head coaches within the NFL. The truth that he did not get provided a head teaching alternative was a letdown, however one he’d grown used to experiencing.

Bieniemy has been interviewed for countless NFL head-coaching jobs, he is had quite a few conversations with entrance workplace people about what a staff led by him would possibly play like. When he determined to just accept the offensive coordinator place for the Washington Commanders forward of the 2023 NFL season, there was no technique to shrug off the truth that he was leaving Reid’s shadow. However the season ended with the Commanders going 4-13, head coach Ron Rivera getting fired, and Bieniemy and not using a job as a playcaller within the NFL.

Moderately than accepting a job as a place coach, Bieniemy selected to supply his experience to a former working backs coach, and a first-time head coach, tasked with constructing a workers able to recruiting and competing in probably the most aggressive leagues within the sport.

Foster, beloved by gamers and alumni, employed somebody who was not solely a adorned coordinator within the NFL, however a former highschool star in Los Angeles County. Whether or not Bieniemy can recruit at a excessive stage stays to be seen, and present Bruins quarterbacks Collin Schlee and Ethan Garbers usually are not Mahomes, however that misses the purpose.

Mahomes did not turn out to be a Tremendous Bowl champion till Reid promoted Bieniemy after now-Chiefs coordinator Matt Nagy left to turn out to be head coach in Chicago. And Mahomes believes he has developed into the participant he’s at present – a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion and two-time NFL MVP – largely attributable to Bieniemy.

That is the brand new offensive coordinator in Westwood. And if you communicate of him, begin there.

RJ Younger is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Observe him on Twitter at @RJ_Young and subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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