We already know what he means to Boulder. Now, the College Football Hall of Fame might finally catch up.
Eric Bieniemy, Colorado’s all-time leading rusher and a key piece of the 1990 National Championship team, has officially been named to the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. It’s long overdue. And if there’s any justice, this is the year one of our greatest ever gets his gold jacket.
Bieniemy isn’t just a Colorado legend—he is Colorado football. His name is etched into every major rushing record in the program’s history. He helped carry Coach Bill McCartney's Buffs into the national spotlight, and his 1990 season is still one of the most iconic in school history.
The heartbeat of the 1990 champs
Over four seasons in Boulder, Bieniemy rushed for 3,940 yards and 42 touchdowns—both school records. But it wasn’t just the numbers. It was when he showed up.
In 1990, he finished third in Heisman Trophy voting, earned unanimous All-American honors, and powered CU to its only national title. That run cemented his legacy not only as a Buff, but as one of the best backs in college football at the time.
His bounceback performance in 1990 vs Nebraska, going from four fumbles to four scores, is still legendary here in Boulder.
Deservedly, he’s already in the CU Athletics Hall of Fame. He’s been celebrated in Boulder for decades. Now, he’s up for the sport’s highest individual honor—and he deserves it.
Bieniemy joins elite company on this year’s ballot
The 2026 Hall of Fame ballot is loaded.
Bieniemy shares it with two Heisman winners—Cam Newton and Mark Ingram—as well as legends like Percy Harvin, Kellen Moore, and Ndamukong Suh. It’s elite company, but Bieniemy belongs in the conversation.
He’s not the only Buff on the ballot, either. Former All-American cornerback Chris Hudson, who won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1994, was also included. Hudson was the anchor of CU’s secondary during another golden era in the early ’90s. His son, Uryan Hudson, was a walk-on under Coach Mike MacIntyre.
If either are selected, they’ll join a legendary group of Buffs already enshrined—including Rashaan Salaam, Alfred Williams, Michael Westbrook, and Coach McCartney.
From undersized underdog to two-time Super Bowl champion
At just 5-foot-7, Bieniemy was not a small back. He was a bulldozer. He ran with vision, violence, and heart. His style made him a nightmare for defenses in the Big Eight.
While his NFL playing career was solid—spanning nine years with the Chargers, Bengals, and Eagles—his impact after retirement has been even more impressive.
He served as CU’s running backs coach from 2001–02 and returned as offensive coordinator in 2011–12. From there, he climbed the NFL coaching ladder, eventually becoming offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs during their Super Bowl LIV and LVII runs.
Now, Bieniemy is entering his 17th NFL season as a coach, currently serving as running backs coach for the Chicago Bears.
A moment for Buffs fans
There’s something special about moments like this. Waking up this morning seeing the College Football ballot results, it seems like each year a Colorado Buff is on it.
It reminds us just how rich (and underrated) our history really is. Bieniemy didn’t just help build CU football—he defined it for an entire generation. And now, as Coach Prime ushers in a new era, it’s fitting that one of our past stars gets his due.
Let’s not take this for granted. Eric Bieniemy belongs in the College Football Hall of Fame—and if voters do their homework, he won’t be a nominee much longer.
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