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Nicknamed "Scooter" and wearing No. 1, Bieniemy earned consensus [[1990 College Football All-America Team|All-America honors in 1990]] as part of Colorado's national championship team. He was a two-time first-team all Big-Eight performer, in 1988 and 1990, earning the conference's offensive Player of the Year honor as a senior. As a junior, he was named to CU's prestigious 25-member "All-Century Football Team," the only active player at the time to be selected to the group honoring the first 100 years of Colorado Buffalo football.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}
Nicknamed "Scooter" and wearing No. 1, Bieniemy earned consensus [[1990 College Football All-America Team|All-America honors in 1990]] as part of Colorado's national championship team. He was a two-time first-team all Big-Eight performer, in 1988 and 1990, earning the conference's offensive Player of the Year honor as a senior. As a junior, he was named to CU's prestigious 25-member "All-Century Football Team," the only active player at the time to be selected to the group honoring the first 100 years of Colorado Buffalo football.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

⚫
While at Colorado, Bieniemy was arrested following a February 1988 bar fight. Both Bieniemy and teammate Kanavis McGhee pleaded no contest—McGhee to a charge of second-degree assault, and Bieniemy to charges of disorderly conduct and fighting in public. They received deferred sentences and were ordered to perform community service. They were also subjected to unspecified disciplinary action by McCartney.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Reilly|first=Rick|date=February 27, 1989|title=What Price Glory?|work=Sports Illustrated|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/02/27/what-price-glory-under-coach-bill-mccartney-colorado-football-has-taken-off-but-so-has-ugly-criminal-behavior-among-the-buffalo-players|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref> Also, on July 4, 1990, Bieniemy pleaded no contest in an incident in which he was accused of shoving a firefighter who had responded to his mother's house in Denver to douse a garage fire. Bieniemy received an eight-month suspended sentence<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=September 27, 1993|title=Chargers' Bieniemy Arrested|work=Orlando Sentinel|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1993-09-27-9309270294-story.html|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref> and was suspended for one game.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 24, 1990|title=Colorado tailback suspended for alteraction|agency=UPI|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/07/24/Colorado-tailback-suspended-for-alteraction/5791648792000/}}</ref>


===National Football League===
===National Football League===
Bieniemy played from 1991 through 1999, and finished his career with 1,589 yards rushing, 1,223 yards receiving, 276 yards returning punts, 1,621 yards on kickoff returns, and 12 touchdowns (11 rushing and one kickoff return) while playing for the [[San Diego Chargers]], [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. [[ESPN]] broadcaster [[Chris Berman]] gave him the nickname "Eric 'sleeping with' Bieniemy", in reference to the [[1991 in film|1991]] film ''[[Sleeping with the Enemy (1991 film)|Sleeping with the Enemy]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Polson|first=Chris|date=September 8, 2010|title=Ten of the Best Chris Berman Football Nicknames|work=Bleacher Report|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/455818-ten-of-the-best-chris-berman-football-nicknames#slide5|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref>
Bieniemy played from 1991 through 1999, and finished his career with 1,589 yards rushing, 1,223 yards receiving, 276 yards returning punts, 1,621 yards on kickoff returns, and 12 touchdowns (11 rushing and one kickoff return) while playing for the [[San Diego Chargers]], [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. [[ESPN]] broadcaster [[Chris Berman]] gave him the nickname "Eric 'sleeping with' Bieniemy", in reference to the [[1991 in film|1991]] film ''[[Sleeping with the Enemy (1991 film)|Sleeping with the Enemy]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Polson|first=Chris|date=September 8, 2010|title=Ten of the Best Chris Berman Football Nicknames|work=Bleacher Report|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/455818-ten-of-the-best-chris-berman-football-nicknames#slide5|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref>

⚫
On September 27, 1993, Bieniemy was arrested in Boulder, Colorado for allegedly harassing a parking attendant. According to the police report, "Bieniemy was with five friends in a parking lot when he allegedly approached a lot attendant from behind and grabbed her by the neck. The victim told police the contact was not painful, but it startled her. She said the man also made comments while holding her."<ref name=":0" /> As a result of this incident, Bieniemy was banned from the University of Colorado Boulder campus for one year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Bach|first=Jessica|last2=Tran|first2=Bruce|date=April 5, 2004|title=Football: Bieniemy to likely face questioning|work=Daily Bruin|url=https://dailybruin.com/2004/04/05/football-bieniemy-to-likely-fa|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref>


==Coaching career==
==Coaching career==
===Early college jobs===
===Early college jobs===
Bieniemy returned to Colorado to complete his degree and was the running backs coach for the Buffaloes from [[2001 Colorado Buffaloes football team|2001]] to [[2002 Colorado Buffaloes football team|2002]] and at [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]] from [[2003 UCLA Bruins football team|2003]] to [[2005 UCLA Bruins football team|2005]], as well as the team's recruiting coordinator in 2005.<ref name=":1" />
Bieniemy returned to Colorado to complete his degree and was the running backs coach for the Buffaloes from [[2001 Colorado Buffaloes football team|2001]] to [[2002 Colorado Buffaloes football team|2002]] and was [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]] running back coach from [[2003 UCLA Bruins football team|2003]] to [[2005 UCLA Bruins football team|2005]], as well as the team's recruiting coordinator in 2005.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Bach|first=Jessica|last2=Tran|first2=Bruce|date=April 5, 2004|title=Football: Bieniemy to likely face questioning|work=Daily Bruin|url=https://dailybruin.com/2004/04/05/football-bieniemy-to-likely-fa|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref>


===Minnesota Vikings===
===Minnesota Vikings===
Line 83: Line 79:
===Kansas City Chiefs===
===Kansas City Chiefs===
In [[2013 Kansas City Chiefs season|2013]], [[Kansas City Chiefs]] head coach [[Andy Reid]] hired Bieniemy to be the running backs coach. Reid was familiar with Bieniemy as Reid had coached him on the Philadelphia Eagles. In [[2018 Kansas City Chiefs season|2018]], Reid promoted Bieniemy to offensive coordinator to succeed [[Matt Nagy]] who had been hired as the head coach of the [[Chicago Bears]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000904902/article/chiefs-promote-eric-bieniemy-to-offensive-coordinator |title=Chiefs promote Eric Bieniemy to offensive coordinator |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |date=January 9, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> In Bieniemy's first season as the Chiefs offensive coordinator, the Chiefs were first in the NFL in yards per game and points scored although Reid called the plays instead of Bieniemy.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/sports/nfl/columnist/bell/2020/12/30/eric-bieniemy-tries-beat-trend-lack-nfl-black-coaching-picks/4022532001/]</ref> The Chiefs scored the third-most points in a season in NFL history with 565. Additionally, Chiefs quarterback [[Patrick Mahomes]] became the second quarterback in NFL history, along with [[Peyton Manning]], to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lund |first1=Spencer |title=Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes Becomes 2nd Ever to Throw 50 TDs and 5,000 Yards in a Season |url=https://www.complex.com/sports/2018/12/chiefs-patrick-mahomes-throw-50-tds-5000-yards-in-season |website=complex.com |access-date=20 January 2020}}</ref> The Chiefs reached the [[2018 AFC Championship Game]] where they lost to the [[New England Patriots]]. In [[2019 Kansas City Chiefs season|2019]], Bieniemy won his first Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the [[San Francisco 49ers]] 31–20 in [[Super Bowl LIV]].
In [[2013 Kansas City Chiefs season|2013]], [[Kansas City Chiefs]] head coach [[Andy Reid]] hired Bieniemy to be the running backs coach. Reid was familiar with Bieniemy as Reid had coached him on the Philadelphia Eagles. In [[2018 Kansas City Chiefs season|2018]], Reid promoted Bieniemy to offensive coordinator to succeed [[Matt Nagy]] who had been hired as the head coach of the [[Chicago Bears]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000904902/article/chiefs-promote-eric-bieniemy-to-offensive-coordinator |title=Chiefs promote Eric Bieniemy to offensive coordinator |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |date=January 9, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> In Bieniemy's first season as the Chiefs offensive coordinator, the Chiefs were first in the NFL in yards per game and points scored although Reid called the plays instead of Bieniemy.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/sports/nfl/columnist/bell/2020/12/30/eric-bieniemy-tries-beat-trend-lack-nfl-black-coaching-picks/4022532001/]</ref> The Chiefs scored the third-most points in a season in NFL history with 565. Additionally, Chiefs quarterback [[Patrick Mahomes]] became the second quarterback in NFL history, along with [[Peyton Manning]], to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lund |first1=Spencer |title=Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes Becomes 2nd Ever to Throw 50 TDs and 5,000 Yards in a Season |url=https://www.complex.com/sports/2018/12/chiefs-patrick-mahomes-throw-50-tds-5000-yards-in-season |website=complex.com |access-date=20 January 2020}}</ref> The Chiefs reached the [[2018 AFC Championship Game]] where they lost to the [[New England Patriots]]. In [[2019 Kansas City Chiefs season|2019]], Bieniemy won his first Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the [[San Francisco 49ers]] 31–20 in [[Super Bowl LIV]].

== Controversies ==

=== Bar fight ===
⚫
While at Colorado, Bieniemy was arrested following a February 1988 bar fight. Both Bieniemy and teammate Kanavis McGhee pleaded no contest—McGhee to a charge of second-degree assault, and Bieniemy to charges of disorderly conduct and fighting in public. They received deferred sentences and were ordered to perform community service. They were also subjected to unspecified disciplinary action by head coach [[Bill McCartney]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Reilly|first=Rick|date=February 27, 1989|title=What Price Glory?|work=Sports Illustrated|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/02/27/what-price-glory-under-coach-bill-mccartney-colorado-football-has-taken-off-but-so-has-ugly-criminal-behavior-among-the-buffalo-players|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref>

=== Shoving firefighter ===
On July 4, 1990, Bieniemy pleaded no contest in an incident in which he was accused of shoving a firefighter who had responded to his mother's house in Denver to douse a garage fire. Bieniemy received an eight-month suspended sentence<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=September 27, 1993|title=Chargers' Bieniemy Arrested|work=Orlando Sentinel|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1993-09-27-9309270294-story.html|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref> and was suspended for one game.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 24, 1990|title=Colorado tailback suspended for alteraction|agency=UPI|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/07/24/Colorado-tailback-suspended-for-alteraction/5791648792000/}}</ref> Bieniemy was instructed to do 40 hours of community service and attend an eight-hour firefighting training session, but Aurora assistant city attorney Mike Hyman alleged that Bieniemy failed to attend the firefighting training session as stipulated when he agreed to plead no contest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Facebook|last2=Twitter|last3=options|first3=Show more sharing|last4=Facebook|last5=Twitter|last6=LinkedIn|last7=Email|last8=URLCopied!|first8=Copy Link|last9=Print|date=1991-04-23|title=Newest Charger on the Run : Colorado Warrant for Bieniemy's Arrest Is Latest Brush with Law|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-23-sp-497-story.html|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Driving with suspended license ===
In 1989, Bieniemy was ticketed in [[Westminster, Colorado|Westminster]] for driving a defective vehicle. Later that same year, he was ticketed for speeding in [[Aurora, Colorado|Aurora]]. In October 1990, Bieniemy's license was suspended for a year for making an improper left turn. On March 21, 1991, Bieniemy was caught speeding and driving with suspended license on [[Interstate 70|I-70]] near [[Rifle, Colorado]], going 92 mph in a 65 mph zone. On April 17, 1991, Bieniemy failed to appear in court. On April 23, 1991, two days after being drafted in the [[1991 NFL Draft]], a bench warrant was in Colorado for Bieniemy’s arrest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Facebook|last2=Twitter|last3=options|first3=Show more sharing|last4=Facebook|last5=Twitter|last6=LinkedIn|last7=Email|last8=URLCopied!|first8=Copy Link|last9=Print|date=1991-04-23|title=Newest Charger on the Run : Colorado Warrant for Bieniemy's Arrest Is Latest Brush with Law|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-23-sp-497-story.html|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Harassment and choking of female parking attendant ===
⚫
On September 27, 1993, Bieniemy was arrested in Boulder, Colorado for allegedly harassing a female parking attendant. According to the police report, "Bieniemy was with five friends in a parking lot when he allegedly approached a lot attendant from behind and grabbed her by the neck. The victim told police the contact was not painful, but it startled her. She said the man also made comments while holding her about 'about 'a bunch of black males all at once being her worst nightmare.'"<ref name=":0" /> Then Bieniemy and his friends allegedly took off their pants and began urinating nearby. One of his friends, Calvin Lucas Graham, was arrested for hitting a witness during the incident and investigated for intimidating a witness. Bieniemy was also named in an outstanding warrant on a charge of driving with a suspended license. As a result of this incident, Bieniemy was banned from the University of Colorado Boulder campus for one year.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Lawrence Journal-World - Google News Archive Search|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19930927&id=z60zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IuYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2861,9202179&hl=en|access-date=2021-01-13|website=news.google.com}}</ref>

=== DUI ===
In April 2001, Bieniemy was arrested for driving under the influence and was docked a month's pay.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eric Bieniemy Arrested in DUI Case|url=https://apnews.com/article/95bd40c46c3e4e3b3fe1b2a353e9e199|access-date=2021-01-13|website=AP NEWS}}</ref>

=== Bullying of Marcus Houston ===
From 2001 to 2002, Bieniemy had a long-running rift with injury-prone Colorado star recruit [[Marcus Houston]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dunn|first=Julie|date=2003-08-30|title=COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Running Back Sees Both Sides of Colorado Rivalry (Published 2003)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/30/sports/college-football-running-back-sees-both-sides-of-colorado-rivalry.html|access-date=2021-01-13|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Bieniemy questioned Houston's "willingness to play hurt" and demeaned Houston's manhood, calling him "Markeesha" in practices.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-08-06|title=Offensive coordinator Bieniemy brings his deep intensity for Buffaloes back to Boulder|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2011/08/06/offensive-coordinator-bieniemy-brings-his-deep-intensity-for-buffaloes-back-to-boulder/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US}}</ref> In light of these circumstances, [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] waived its rule requiring players to sit out a season after transferring and Houston transferred to [[Colorado State Rams football|Colorado State University]] in 2003.

=== Colorado recruiting rape scandal ===
Bieniemy was the leading recruiter and running backs coach at the [[Colorado Buffaloes football|University of Colorado]] from 2001 to 2002 under head coach [[Gary Barnett]]. During this time, students and several others alleged they were raped by football players, most notably kicker [[Katie Hnida]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-02-17|title=Ex-kicker says she was raped at Colorado|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=1737416|access-date=2021-01-13|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=CNN.com - Sixth rape allegation surfaces at CU - Feb. 20, 2004|url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Central/02/19/colorado.football/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=www.cnn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-05-27|title=Timeline: Colorado recruiting scandal|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=1803891|access-date=2021-01-13|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Facebook|last2=Twitter|last3=options|first3=Show more sharing|last4=Facebook|last5=Twitter|last6=LinkedIn|last7=Email|last8=URLCopied!|first8=Copy Link|last9=Print|date=2004-02-20|title=University of Colorado Is a Study in Sports Scandal|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-feb-20-sp-colorado20-story.html|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> In several depositions taken in 2003 for the lawsuit brought against CU, Bieniemy's name was mentioned to set a pattern of behavior accepted by the university. Bieniemy himself was called by an independent investigative commission appointed by the University of Colorado Board of Regents in 2004 for questioning.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Football: Bieniemy to likely face questioning|url=https://dailybruin.com/2004/04/05/football-bieniemy-to-likely-fa/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Daily Bruin}}</ref> After repeated calls for his firing, Barnett was fired in 2005 and never coached again.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-12-08|title=Barnett out as coach of Colorado|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2252252|access-date=2021-01-13|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-02-19|title=Frei: Rocky Mountain low|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=1739319|access-date=2021-01-13|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Revision as of 11:04, 13 January 2021

Eric Bieniemy
Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Offensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1969-08-15) August 15, 1969 (age 54)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Height:5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:Bishop Amat Memorial
(La Puente, California)
College:Colorado
NFL draft:1991 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
As player
As coach
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:387
Rushing Yards:1,589
Rushing TDs:11
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Eric M. Bieniemy Jr. (born August 15, 1969) is an American football coach and former player who is the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Bieniemy is a former running back who played in the NFL for nine seasons. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round, 39th overall, of the 1991 NFL Draft.[1] Bieniemy served as the offensive coordinator at Colorado before becoming the running backs coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Early years

Bieniemy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He lettered in football and track and field at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, California, earning second-team All-America honors in football as a senior when he rushed for 2,002 yards and 30 touchdowns.[2]

Playing career

College

Bieniemy was heavily recruited out of high school and chose to attend the University of Colorado Boulder. He was the nation's second leading rusher with the Buffaloes in 1990 with 1,628 yards, along with 17 touchdowns, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting behind BYU's Ty Detmer (the winner) and Notre Dame's Raghib Ismail.[3] Bieniemy is Colorado's all-time leader in rushing (3,940 yards), all-purpose yards (4,351), and touchdowns (42).[4]

Nicknamed "Scooter" and wearing No. 1, Bieniemy earned consensus All-America honors in 1990 as part of Colorado's national championship team. He was a two-time first-team all Big-Eight performer, in 1988 and 1990, earning the conference's offensive Player of the Year honor as a senior. As a junior, he was named to CU's prestigious 25-member "All-Century Football Team," the only active player at the time to be selected to the group honoring the first 100 years of Colorado Buffalo football.[citation needed]

National Football League

Bieniemy played from 1991 through 1999, and finished his career with 1,589 yards rushing, 1,223 yards receiving, 276 yards returning punts, 1,621 yards on kickoff returns, and 12 touchdowns (11 rushing and one kickoff return) while playing for the San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman gave him the nickname "Eric 'sleeping with' Bieniemy", in reference to the 1991 film Sleeping with the Enemy.[5]

Coaching career

Early college jobs

Bieniemy returned to Colorado to complete his degree and was the running backs coach for the Buffaloes from 2001 to 2002 and was UCLA running back coach from 2003 to 2005, as well as the team's recruiting coordinator in 2005.[6]

Minnesota Vikings

Following UCLA's 2005 Sun Bowl victory, Bieniemy accepted a position as running backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. During his time as the Vikings running back coach, his leading rusher Adrian Peterson, led the NFC in rushing with 1,341 yards in 2007 and also in 2008 with 1,760 yards, which was also tops in the NFL. On July 26, 2010, Bieniemy was also named the Vikings' assistant head coach for the offense.[7]

Return to Colorado

On December 2, 2010, Bieniemy returned to Colorado as offensive coordinator under new head coach Jon Embree. In 2020, Bieniemy was offered the head coach position at Colorado but declined.[8]

Kansas City Chiefs

In 2013, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid hired Bieniemy to be the running backs coach. Reid was familiar with Bieniemy as Reid had coached him on the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2018, Reid promoted Bieniemy to offensive coordinator to succeed Matt Nagy who had been hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.[9] In Bieniemy's first season as the Chiefs offensive coordinator, the Chiefs were first in the NFL in yards per game and points scored although Reid called the plays instead of Bieniemy.[10] The Chiefs scored the third-most points in a season in NFL history with 565. Additionally, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes became the second quarterback in NFL history, along with Peyton Manning, to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season.[11] The Chiefs reached the 2018 AFC Championship Game where they lost to the New England Patriots. In 2019, Bieniemy won his first Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31–20 in Super Bowl LIV.

Controversies

Bar fight

While at Colorado, Bieniemy was arrested following a February 1988 bar fight. Both Bieniemy and teammate Kanavis McGhee pleaded no contest—McGhee to a charge of second-degree assault, and Bieniemy to charges of disorderly conduct and fighting in public. They received deferred sentences and were ordered to perform community service. They were also subjected to unspecified disciplinary action by head coach Bill McCartney.[12]

Shoving firefighter

On July 4, 1990, Bieniemy pleaded no contest in an incident in which he was accused of shoving a firefighter who had responded to his mother's house in Denver to douse a garage fire. Bieniemy received an eight-month suspended sentence[13] and was suspended for one game.[14] Bieniemy was instructed to do 40 hours of community service and attend an eight-hour firefighting training session, but Aurora assistant city attorney Mike Hyman alleged that Bieniemy failed to attend the firefighting training session as stipulated when he agreed to plead no contest.[15]

Driving with suspended license

In 1989, Bieniemy was ticketed in Westminster for driving a defective vehicle. Later that same year, he was ticketed for speeding in Aurora. In October 1990, Bieniemy's license was suspended for a year for making an improper left turn. On March 21, 1991, Bieniemy was caught speeding and driving with suspended license on I-70 near Rifle, Colorado, going 92 mph in a 65 mph zone. On April 17, 1991, Bieniemy failed to appear in court. On April 23, 1991, two days after being drafted in the 1991 NFL Draft, a bench warrant was in Colorado for Bieniemy’s arrest.[16]

Harassment and choking of female parking attendant

On September 27, 1993, Bieniemy was arrested in Boulder, Colorado for allegedly harassing a female parking attendant. According to the police report, "Bieniemy was with five friends in a parking lot when he allegedly approached a lot attendant from behind and grabbed her by the neck. The victim told police the contact was not painful, but it startled her. She said the man also made comments while holding her about 'about 'a bunch of black males all at once being her worst nightmare.'"[13] Then Bieniemy and his friends allegedly took off their pants and began urinating nearby. One of his friends, Calvin Lucas Graham, was arrested for hitting a witness during the incident and investigated for intimidating a witness. Bieniemy was also named in an outstanding warrant on a charge of driving with a suspended license. As a result of this incident, Bieniemy was banned from the University of Colorado Boulder campus for one year.[6][17]

DUI

In April 2001, Bieniemy was arrested for driving under the influence and was docked a month's pay.[18]

Bullying of Marcus Houston

From 2001 to 2002, Bieniemy had a long-running rift with injury-prone Colorado star recruit Marcus Houston.[19] Bieniemy questioned Houston's "willingness to play hurt" and demeaned Houston's manhood, calling him "Markeesha" in practices.[20] In light of these circumstances, NCAA waived its rule requiring players to sit out a season after transferring and Houston transferred to Colorado State University in 2003.

Colorado recruiting rape scandal

Bieniemy was the leading recruiter and running backs coach at the University of Colorado from 2001 to 2002 under head coach Gary Barnett. During this time, students and several others alleged they were raped by football players, most notably kicker Katie Hnida.[21][22][23][24] In several depositions taken in 2003 for the lawsuit brought against CU, Bieniemy's name was mentioned to set a pattern of behavior accepted by the university. Bieniemy himself was called by an independent investigative commission appointed by the University of Colorado Board of Regents in 2004 for questioning.[25] After repeated calls for his firing, Barnett was fired in 2005 and never coached again.[26][27]

Personal life

Bieniemy and his wife, Mia, have two sons, Eric III and Elijah.[4] His nephew, Jamal, plays basketball at UTEP.[28] He also is a member of Omega Psi Phi.

References

  1. ^ "1991 Draft". NFL.com. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  2. ^ Robb, Sharon (December 25, 1989). "Colorado's Bieniemy Puts Problems in Past". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  3. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1990.html
  4. ^ a b "Eric Bieniemy". lostlettermen.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  5. ^ Polson, Chris (September 8, 2010). "Ten of the Best Chris Berman Football Nicknames". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Bach, Jessica; Tran, Bruce (April 5, 2004). "Football: Bieniemy to likely face questioning". Daily Bruin. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "Vikings promote RB coach Bieniemy". espn.com. July 26, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ Bergman, Jeremy (January 9, 2018). "Chiefs promote Eric Bieniemy to offensive coordinator". NFL.com.
  10. ^ [2]
  11. ^ Lund, Spencer. "Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Becomes 2nd Ever to Throw 50 TDs and 5,000 Yards in a Season". complex.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Reilly, Rick (February 27, 1989). "What Price Glory?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Chargers' Bieniemy Arrested". Orlando Sentinel. September 27, 1993. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  14. ^ "Colorado tailback suspended for alteraction". UPI. July 24, 1990.
  15. ^ Facebook; Twitter; options, Show more sharing; Facebook; Twitter; LinkedIn; Email; URLCopied!, Copy Link; Print (April 23, 1991). "Newest Charger on the Run : Colorado Warrant for Bieniemy's Arrest Is Latest Brush with Law". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ Facebook; Twitter; options, Show more sharing; Facebook; Twitter; LinkedIn; Email; URLCopied!, Copy Link; Print (April 23, 1991). "Newest Charger on the Run : Colorado Warrant for Bieniemy's Arrest Is Latest Brush with Law". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  17. ^ "Lawrence Journal-World - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  18. ^ "Eric Bieniemy Arrested in DUI Case". AP NEWS. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  19. ^ Dunn, Julie (August 30, 2003). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Running Back Sees Both Sides of Colorado Rivalry (Published 2003)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "Offensive coordinator Bieniemy brings his deep intensity for Buffaloes back to Boulder". The Denver Post. August 6, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  21. ^ "Ex-kicker says she was raped at Colorado". ESPN.com. February 17, 2004. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  22. ^ "CNN.com - Sixth rape allegation surfaces at CU - Feb. 20, 2004". www.cnn.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "Timeline: Colorado recruiting scandal". ESPN.com. May 27, 2004. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  24. ^ Facebook; Twitter; options, Show more sharing; Facebook; Twitter; LinkedIn; Email; URLCopied!, Copy Link; Print (February 20, 2004). "University of Colorado Is a Study in Sports Scandal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  25. ^ "Football: Bieniemy to likely face questioning". Daily Bruin. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  26. ^ "Barnett out as coach of Colorado". ESPN.com. December 8, 2005. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  27. ^ "Frei: Rocky Mountain low". ESPN.com. February 19, 2004. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "Jamal Bieniemy player profile". SoonerSports.com.
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