Bieniemy also knows his career path to becoming a coordinator was not conventional. For nine NFL seasons, Bieniemy was a ferocious running back who lengthened his career by being smart and versatile out of the backfield. He began his coaching career in 2000 as an assistant at Thomas Jefferson High in Denver. He coached running backs in college for six years before joining the Vikings in 2006. With Adrian Peterson as the Vikings’ star running back, Bieniemy helped him gain 5,782 rushing yards and score 52 touchdowns in four seasons. In 2011, Bieniemy was hired by Jon Embree to be Colorado’s offensive coordinator. Both men returned to their alma mater to help rebuild the school’s program. In Bieniemy’s first season, Colorado’s offense ranked 92nd in the nation. The team went 4-20 in two years, which prompted the school to fire Embree and his staff. Reid, when first building his staff after arriving in Kansas City, hired Bieniemy in 2013. Since then, the fiery Bieniemy has helped improve every featured running back for the Chiefs. Jamaal Charles led the league in touchdowns (19) in 2013 and averaged a franchise-best 5.5 yards per carry. Spencer Ware became a reliable player under Bieniemy in 2016, and Kareem Hunt, as a rookie, led the league in rushing last season. “He pays attention to everything,” Ware said of Bieniemy. “The biggest thing Coach Bieniemy will bring to our offense is his intensity. Take a look at his résumé or the players he’s coached and the way they play football. Having the entire offense with that same mentality is pretty exciting.” For a man who loves talking, Bieniemy tried to be a better listener this summer after his promotion. He called Embree. He spoke with Rip Scherer, the Chargers’ tight-ends coach who was Colorado’s quarterbacks coach from 2011-12. He chatted with Darrell Bevell, the former Seahawks offensive coordinator, and Tom Cable, the Raiders’ offensive-line coach. Each man congratulated Bieniemy and offered advice. “They’ve given me a lot,” Bieniemy said, smiling. “Most of them said, ‘Hey E.B., you can’t work yourself to death. You’ve got to step back and take a couple deep breaths. Enjoy the process.’” Embree made sure to tell Bieniemy that he was more than capable of succeeding. “A lot of times, people think you have to be a quarterback to be an offensive coordinator, and that’s not the case,” Embree told The Kansas City Star in January. “I’m glad he’s getting a chance to show that that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.” Eric Bieniemy says it’s a privilege to work for and learn from Andy Reid, above. “A football genius,” Bieniemy says. (Photo by Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports) Every assistant, at some point, needs a mentor, someone who will give them guidance and significant support. One of first men who became a coaching mentor for Bieniemy was Reid. In 1999, Bieniemy played the final season of his career with the Eagles, who were led by Reid, then a first-year coach. The more the men worked together, the more Bieniemy was amazed by what he learned from the complexities of Reid’s West Coast offense.
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