The Chicago Bears experienced significant internal shifts following the conclusion of their 2025 campaign, as head coach Ben Johnson navigated his inaugural season while relying heavily on the expertise and leadership of veteran assistant coach Eric Bieniemy, who served as the team’s running backs coach.
Bieniemy, widely respected across the league for his years of success as the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, brought a wealth of experience to Chicago’s young coaching staff during Johnson’s first season, contributing noticeably to the team’s offensive evolution.
However, the Bears must now adjust to a significant departure, as Bieniemy has officially left the organization to return to Kansas City, where he will reclaim his former role as offensive coordinator for a franchise seeking renewed offensive balance after recent struggles.
The shift marks a meaningful turning point for both sides, but Johnson was candid about the profound influence Bieniemy had during their year together, expressing immense respect for the veteran coach’s contributions to the Bears’ offensive infrastructure.
Speaking via Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star, Johnson offered high praise, saying: “I was blown away from the impact he had. Not just in that room but the entire offense. Those are big shoes to fill.”
These words reflect both admiration and concern, as the Bears recognize the challenge of replacing a coach whose leadership, experience and teaching ability helped elevate the performance of Chicago’s running back unit and offensive identity as a whole.
The Bears’ 2025 season delivered statistical validation of Bieniemy’s impact, as Chicago finished third in the NFL in rushing, averaging 144.5 rushing yards per game, a dramatic improvement over their 2024 ranking, where they placed 25th overall with just 102 yards per game.
This transformation was attributed to multiple factors, including an upgraded offensive line, Johnson’s offensive vision, and the steady, refined guidance Bieniemy provided to a backfield that blended veteran presence with emerging rookie talent.
Under Bieniemy’s direction, running back D’Andre Swift experienced a career resurgence, posting new personal bests with 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, demonstrating improved decisiveness, vision and burst within the Bears’ revamped rushing scheme.
Additionally, seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai, viewed initially as a depth piece, emerged as one of the most surprising first-year contributors by recording 783 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries, showcasing maturity and physicality that exceeded expectations.
While rookie quarterback Caleb Williams commanded most national attention, the Bears’ success on the ground was instrumental in easing his transition into the NFL, allowing the offense to maintain balance and control game tempo against elite defensive fronts.
Bieniemy’s ability to extract production from both Swift and Monangai gave Chicago an unexpected competitive edge throughout the season, reinforcing his reputation as one of the league’s most effective instructors at the running back position.
In the wake of his departure, the Bears have turned to seasoned coach Eric Studesville, who will take over as Chicago’s running backs coach, hoping to replicate Bieniemy’s developmental approach while sustaining the unit’s upward trajectory.
Studesville, a longtime NFL assistant with decades of experience, inherits a backfield that made significant strides in 2025, but he now faces the pressure of matching the transformative results Bieniemy delivered during his short but highly influential tenure.
Despite the challenge ahead, Johnson emphasized that Bieniemy’s legacy in Chicago extends beyond statistics, as his presence helped establish a cultural and structural blueprint for how the Bears seek to build and operate their offense moving forward.
Even though Bieniemy has returned to Kansas City, Johnson affirmed that the lessons, habits and standards Bieniemy instilled will continue shaping the Bears’ offensive philosophy, especially as they aim to support their young franchise quarterback.
Bieniemy’s departure symbolizes a bittersweet moment for the Bears — a loss of a key mentor but also validation that their coaching environment is becoming a place where respected leaders can thrive and generate real, measurable improvement.
Meanwhile, Kansas City stands to benefit immensely from Bieniemy’s reunion with the franchise, as the Chiefs seek an offensive reset following inconsistencies in 2025 and look to rebuild their identity around smarter scheming, stronger rushing production and improved situational execution.
Bieniemy’s familiarity with Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ offensive personnel and the organization’s core values makes him uniquely positioned to immediately influence Kansas City’s trajectory as they navigate a critical offseason.
For Chicago, however, the void remains clear. Johnson acknowledged that while he is confident in his staff’s ability to move forward, Bieniemy’s tenure created a standard of excellence that will not be easily replicated.
As the Bears enter the 2026 season with heightened expectations, the pressure will fall on Studesville, Swift, Monangai and the entire offensive staff to maintain momentum in the running game and continue building on the foundation Bieniemy helped establish.
Ultimately, the Bears’ offensive resurgence in 2025 was shaped by multiple forces, but Bieniemy’s contributions were undeniable — a reminder of the profound impact a single experienced, detail-oriented coach can have on the growth and identity of an evolving team.
Though his stay in Chicago was brief, Bieniemy leaves behind progress that Johnson openly appreciates, recognizing that the Bears’ run game, discipline and competitive edge improved significantly under his guidance, setting the table for future development.
As both franchises move their separate ways — Chicago rebuilding and Kansas City reloading — Bieniemy’s influence remains a central storyline, linking two teams navigating different but equally important chapters in their pursuit of sustained NFL success.
