Eric Bieniemy is headed back to the college ranks to coach after 16 seasons as an NFL assistant. Bieniemy has finalized a two-year deal to be associate head coach and offensive coordinator at UCLA, per Pete Thamel and Adam Schefter of ESPN.
In an email to ESPN, Bieniemy addressed his departure from the Washington Commanders.
“I have no regrets with the Commanders,” Bieniemy wrote. “Contrary to what some think and what has been put out in the media, I was not fired. I actually just chose not to stay. Learned a lot and that is always a good thing.”
Bieniemy served as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2023 with the Commanders after ten seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, including five as offensive coordinator.
After five straight trips to the AFC Championship Game and two Super Bowl titles in three appearances with the Chiefs, Bieniemy moved on to Washington, hoping to move towards eventually being a head coach.
However, the Commanders struggled, finishing with a 4-13 record. The offense ranked 25th in scoring and 24th in total yards. Bieniemy’s struggles confirmed concerns by some of him joining a lame-duck coaching staff led by Ron Rivera.
The Commanders fired Rivera immediately at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Bieniemy, who had one more year remaining on his contract, interviewed for the head coach opening. However, the team ultimately chose Dan Quinn.
Eric Bieniemy shines light on his Commanders departure
ESPN’s John Keim reported Bieniemy got fired following the hire of Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. A notion Bieniemy contests in his recent email following his hire at UCLA.
What role Bieniemy was asked to have with Quinn’s staff is unclear. Washington did hire former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson as the pass-game coordinator. Johnson also received the title of assistant head coach that Bieniemy previously held.
“I think he’s an excellent coach,” Quinn stated about Bieniemy during his introduction earlier this month. “I had a chance to visit with him today. We’ll continue that dialogue, but we’re not going to work together here. I wanted him to know I respect the work that he’s done. I wish him nothing but the best.”
Nonetheless, Eric Bieniemy says he has no regrets about his year in Washington. He has returned to college for a second stint with the Bruins. This time, he will serve under newly-hired head coach and alumnus DeShaun Foster.
Bieniemy reportedly will have full autonomy of the offense at UCLA.
