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The Chicago Bears completely revamped their offensive coaching staff this offseason, bringing in several experienced coaches to support new head coach Ben Johnson. Among these hires is running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who’s returning to his coaching roots after stints as an offensive coordinator. Despite no longer being the hot head coaching candidate he once was, Bieniemy seems reinvigorated at Bears OTAs – and he’s already making his presence felt.
During early OTAs, Chicago’s running backs participated in basic footwork drills. Rookie Kyle Monangai struggled a bit – not unusual for a first-year player – but Bieniemy didn’t hesitate to call him out. “You’re moving like an old ass man,” he told the Rutgers product. The blunt assessment wasn’t wrong.
Eric Bieniemy’s winding path to the Chicago Bears
Bieniemy’s journey back to position coaching hasn’t been straightforward. After winning two Super Bowls as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator, he spent just one season with the Washington Commanders before a brief stop at UCLA. Now he’s back doing what he originally excelled at – coaching running backs.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid – who’s won three Super Bowls and knows a thing or two about coaching talent – couldn’t speak more highly of Bieniemy when he joined Johnson’s staff in Chicago.
“He’s the best at a lot of things,” Reid said. “He was a great OC, great running back coach. He can coach, really, any position. They’re lucky to have him. He’s a tremendous leader. One of the best leaders (I’ve ever been around).”
Will Kyle Monangai make the Bears roster?
Monangai, Chicago’s seventh-round pick from Rutgers, isn’t fighting for a starting role – he’s battling just to make the roster. The Bears’ backfield already features free agent acquisition D’Andre Swift, second-year back Roschon Johnson, and veteran Travis Homer.
ESPN currently lists Monangai third on the depth chart, though that position is far from secure. The good news? The competition appears wide open behind Swift.
“It’s a wide-open competition there at the running back position,” Biggs said. “You would imagine D’Andre Swift will be in the front of that, but there’s an opportunity for two things — playing time and touches. That’s why they drafted him.”
While Monangai won’t likely jump to starter as a rookie, the NFL season is long and opportunities will come his way. That’s exactly why these early OTA lessons from Bieniemy matter – harsh as they may be.
These early interactions show why the Bears value Bieniemy’s presence. He’s direct, demanding, and doesn’t sugarcoat his assessments – exactly what a young running back room needs as Chicago builds around rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
