The Chicago Bears’ offseason has officially commenced following a nail-biting divisional-round playoff game, where the Los Angeles Rams secured a victory over the Bears with a game-winning field goal in overtime. Despite the loss, the Bears found themselves with a strong sense of optimism after head coach Ben Johnson’s inaugural season, which was deemed largely successful.
As the Bears look towards the 2026 season, there will inevitably be changes within the roster and coaching staff. One key figure who may soon enter the conversation for coaching vacancies is Eric Bieniemy, who has served as the Bears’ running backs coach. Under his guidance, the team boasted the league’s third-ranked rushing offense, achieving impressive totals in both overall yards and yards per attempt, which stood at 4.9. The dynamic duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monogai flourished, contributing a total of 14 rushing touchdowns this season.
With such notable achievements, Bieniemy’s name is likely to emerge in discussions for coordinator positions elsewhere in the NFL. Specifically, he is a potential candidate to step into the offensive coordinator role for the Kansas City Chiefs, aligning with the uncertainty surrounding current coordinator Matt Nagy, who is a frontrunner for the Tennessee Titans’ head coaching position. Even if Nagy remains with the Chiefs, his contract is expiring, leading many to speculate about a shift in the team’s coaching dynamic.
Bieniemy has a rich history with the Chiefs, where he served as offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, a period during which the Chiefs consistently ranked in the top tier of the league for both offensive yards and points. After a brief stint with the Washington Commanders, where he was let go, Bieniemy returned to the collegiate level before being recruited back by the Bears’ Johnson for the running backs position.
While the Chiefs have not yet made any definitive changes to their coaching staff, they have recently let go of their running backs and wide receivers coaches, indicating a possible shift in strategy. As the dust settles from the divisional round, Bieniemy’s name will likely resurface as a prospective candidate for high-profile positions, showcasing the perpetual reshuffling that characterizes the NFL coaching landscape.
With the offseason unfolding, there is a palpable sense of excitement surrounding the Bears and the promising potential for both players and coaching personnel as they prepare for the future. The path ahead may hold new opportunities and challenges, but the foundation built under Johnson’s leadership and Bieniemy’s contributions leave fans hopeful for what lies ahead.