Chip Kelly and Eric Bieniemy were both tabbed as potential Colorado football offensive coordinator options for Coach Prime’s Buffs staff this offseason by DNVR’s Jake Schwanitz — positioning both as shockers if either was brought to Boulder in 2024.
“Before UCLA’s 38-20 win over USC on November 18th, it was widely rumored that UCLA was considering parting ways with Chip Kelly,” Schwanitz said of Kelly before then saying, “On November 27th it was reported that UCLA would be bringing Kelly back for his seventh season as the Bruins head coach but crazier things have happened in college football.”
Regarding Bieniemy, Schwanitz essentially shut the door on the possibility, despite listing it, due to the current Washington Commanders offensive coordinator/assistant head coach’s prior legal issues in Colorado due to his conduct.
“The Washington Commanders’ current offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, Eric Bieniemy is a Colorado Buffaloes legend and served as CU’s offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2012 under Jon Embree,” Schwanitz wrote. “As of Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season, the Commanders are in last place in the NFC East and could undergo a complete change of staff with the organization’s recent change in ownership. Given his prior history and checkered past at the University of Colorado, it would be a shock to see Bieniemy back in Boulder.”
Colorado football projected to hire offensive coordinator from within unless it’s a wild card
Schwanitz listed Pat Shurmur, who was promoted midseason to lead play-caller at new San Diego State head coach Sean Lewis’s expense, as one of the most likely offensive coordinator hires for Coach Prime. Wide receivers coach Brett Bartolone, who followed Deion Sanders from Jackson State, is also an option according to Lewis.
Then, there’s the wild card favorite, Byron Leftwich, whose connection to Tom Brady can come in handy given TB12’s close relationship with Shedeur Sanders.
Coach Prime has plenty of options, with varying degrees of experience in Boulder and abroad, to choose from this offseason for his offensive coordinator in a make-or-break second season in Colorado.