Ex-Colorado football offensive coordinator takes same position at UCLA

Former Colorado football offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was hired by UCLA to serve as the Bruins' OC and associate head coach, per ESPN's Pete Thamel.

"UCLA is finalizing a two-year deal to make Eric Bieniemy the school’s new offensive coordinator and associate head coach, ESPN sources tell me and Adam Schefter," Thamel prefaced before saying, "He’s the former offensive coordinator of the Commanders (2023), Chiefs (2018-22) and Colorado (2011-12)."

Bieniemy, as FanSided's Josh Wilson pointed out, could be using UCLA as a stepping stone...

Ex-Colorado football offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy using UCLA as springboard back to NFL

That stepping stone in Pasadena, as many might be wondering, is one back to the NFL ranks, where he can pursue his dream of becoming a head coach.

"(Joining UCLA) projects as a good next step for Bieniemy to prove his coaching capabilities," Wilson prefaced before saying, "While his time at Washington produced poor results, the weapons he had at his disposal weren't great. In college, the results on the field are far more about the scheme and game plan than they are about the players at your disposal."

Still, Wilson feels Bieniemy has earned the right to be an NFL head coach already.

"If he can prove himself at this level, perhaps we see another head coaching cycle where his name pops up for NFL vacancies," Wilson prefaced before saying,"But then again, what more does this guy have to prove?"

Evidently, Bieniemy has gone backwards after his stint with the Washington Commanders. Joining Ron Rivera's sinking ship -- who can forget all of the Jack Del Rio drama throughout the chaotic three years from 2020-2023 -- was never going to yield much for the former Buffs running back. The ex-champion in Boulder is making a much better career move to UCLA than the nation's capital was a year ago.

Could Colorado have been a better choice? The world may never know.