Andy Reid had openly backed Eric Bieniemy when he decided to take up the offensive coordinator role at UCLA. Reid and Bieniemy had a 10-year association at the Chiefs, during which the OC played a major role in the rise of Patrick Mahomes. However, on December 5, UCLA parted ways with the former Washington Commanders OC after just one season, raising speculation about his return to Kansas.

Under the former Chiefs man, UCLA was 117th in total offense (328.8 yards per game), 126th in scoring (18.4 points per game), and had the nation’s fifth-worst rushing attack (86.6 yards per game). A two-time Super Bowl champion OC with the Chiefs, Bieniemy was unable to stamp his authority on the team. While there is some ambiguity over the circumstances of his departure, could we see him link with Reid again? Well, the HC chasing a three-peat addressed the situation with his former right-hand man.

Reid said that even though there isn’t anything concrete on Bieniemy’s return he talked with the former offensive coordinator on Thursday after his firing. “That’s a load to handle, just in itself. So we’ll just leave it there,” Reid was quoted as saying. Even though Reid didn’t dive into details, it appears there is some weight in reports of him possibly returning to Arrowfield.

Bieniemy was once considered an NFL head coaching candidate and left the Chiefs to join the Commanders as OC to prove that he is more than capable of handling things on his own. However, his stint in Washington ended after just one season in 2023 and he took the chance to coach at the collegiate level and perhaps turn that into a bigger opportunity down the line. But yet again things didn’t work out.

However, there is some uncertainty over how his tenure at UCLA came to an end. Jason Fletcher, Bieniemy’s agent, said the coach planned to stay only one season in Westwood and termed his exit from the program as “mutual parting of the ways.”

“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,” Fletcher said. But Bieniemy signed a two-year contract at UCLA and did have a retention bonus if he was on staff for the 2025 season.

This late into the NFL season, it is difficult for any team other than the Chiefs to get him on their staff. His track record at the franchise and his relationship with Patrick Mahomes could be the key to him making a return.

In 2018, he was promoted to Kansas City’s OC to succeed Matt Nagy. That season, under him, the Chiefs were first in the NFL in yards per game and points scored, and put up the third-highest points ever in a season with 565. Patrick Mahomes also became the second quarterback in NFL history, along with Peyton Manning, to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season. They would go on to reach the  2018 AFC Championship Game but lost to the New England Patriots. They would return a year later to win the Super Bowl.

Given how the Chiefs’ offense has been under fire this season, could Reid be tempted to give Bieniemy another chance at the franchise in order to strengthen their bid for a third Super Bowl in a row?

Mahomes has also credited Bieniemy for his success saying, “He will go to war with you just like any other guy on your team,” in 2023. They have maintained a healthy relationship even after the OC’s departure. He was in attendance during last year’s AFC Championship. “It’s always great to have EB in the building,” Mahomes said of Bieniemy. “Just being there, the energy that he brings, the mentality that he brings, you can feel because he has that intensity, but he loves it.”

For now, he has plans to return to the NFL in 2025. His stint at the Commanders was thought to be the next step in his goal of becoming the HC, but it fell flat. Despite his recent setbacks, there is some consolation for him.

Eric Bieniemy still getting paid by the Commanders

In 2023, he moved to the Washington Commanders as Ron Rivera‘s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. However, after 1 year, they fired him along with Rivera and appointed Dan Quinn. He later moved to the UCLA Bruins. However, the Commanders have continued to pay Eric Bieniemy.

His agent made this revelation and said, “Eric and UCLA mutually parted ways today as previously planned. He’s still getting paid by the Commanders.” 

With Bieniemy as OC, the Commanders finished 24th in total offense in route to a 4-13 season. New owner Josh Harris, eventually fired the entire staff, leading to a rebuild.

There have been reports of Bieniemy rubbing the players the wrong way in Washington and some players were also not happy with his tactics at UCLA. As such, it remains to be seen will any high-profile team opt for Bieniemy or if will he have to drop to a lower level and rebuild his reputation.

he is now free from his play-calling and coaching duties. It’s good. He can rest and decide on his future plans without any haste.