Eric Bieniemy interviews for Indianapolis Colts head coaching vacancy
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy interviewed for the Indianapolis Colts head coaching vacancy, according to a release from the team.
The Colts fired Frank Reich midseason before naming former center Jeff Saturday the interim head coach. Saturday was named a reported candidate for the permanent job, but the Colts began interviewing other candidates as well.
Bieniemy began his stint with the Chiefs in 2013 as the team’s running backs coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2018. The talented assistant coach under Andy Reid was in the running for numerous head coaching gigs over the last couple of years but ultimately did not get hired.
He’s been the subject of the coaching cycle since the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV over the San Francisco 49ers.
While there were questions about Bieniemy not getting a chance at a top job, he returned to Reid’s staff each season. Now, he gets another chance with one of the handful of NFL openings.
Bieniemy began his coaching career in 2001 at Colorado as the running back’s coach and was at his alma mater for two seasons. He then went to UCLA in 2003 through the 2005 season in the same position.
Following his time in California, Bieniemy went to the NFL to coach with the Minnesota Vikings in the same role coaching the backfield, the old position of his playing days. From 2006-09, Bieniemy was on staff before being promoted to assistant head coach in 2010.
The coach returned to his alma mater in 2011 for two seasons as the offensive coordinator but eventually came back to the NFL in 2013 with the Chiefs.
Bieniemy had a different type of opportunity at a head coaching gig in2020 when Colorado reached out to him about the job, but he ultimately turned it down.
When your former school reaches out, it’s hard not to listen to what they want to offer,” Bieniemy said in December 2020, via USA Today. “Did I consider it? It was nice to listen to all the kind words. It feels good to be wanted. But in reality, I feel that this is the place I need to be at this particular time.”
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The school reached out to Bieniemy after Mel Tucker left the school after one season for Michigan State and eventually signed a 10-year extension in 2021.
Bieniemy played football at Colorado and was the schools all-time leader in rusher yards with 3,940, all-purpose yards with 4,351 and touchdowns with 42. He was a second-round pick in 1991 by the then-San Diego Chargers, playing for the team for four seasons.
In 1995, Bieniemy began his stint with the Cincinnati Bengals and eventually played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999.