Eric Bieniemy to UCLA: What Happened?

Eric Bieniemy is once again embarking on a new coaching venture. After five great seasons with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, the play-caller never got his chance to be a head coach in the NFL. And two years removed from Kansas City and it appears that is farther away then ever. The school announced that Eric Bieniemy to UCLA is finalized. Eric will serve as the Bruins' OC and assistant head coach. Former Bruin DeShaun Foster was named head coach in Los Angeles after Chip Kelly left earlier this month. So Eric Bieniemy to UCLA is a done move. That poses the simple question; what happened? How could and offensive coordinator paired with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce not get one of the 31 other NFL head coaching jobs?

Eric Bieniemy served as the OC for the Chiefs from 2018-2022. In those five seasons the Kansas City Chiefs never ranked below 6th for total offense. They were the NFL's best offense in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Ranked outside of the top-5 offenses just once (6th in 2019). And didn't miss a beat when the team traded Tyreek Hill to Miami prior to the 2022 season. They finished 1st in the NFL in offensive yards per game. Bieniemy took the Commanders OC gig for the 2023 season. Maybe teams weren't hiring him as a head coach because they thought it was all Patrick Mahomes? KC's offense dipped to 9th in the league this year without Bieniemy.

It is one of the big mysteries over the last decade across the NFL; why can't Eric Bieniemy get a head coaching job? We've seen other OC's with proven elite quarterbacks get opportunities to be a head coach. Matt Nagy, the Chiefs OC pre and post-Bieniemy, managed to get the Bears head coaching job. Doug Pederson used the Chiefs OC role to get the Eagles job and win a Super Bowl. I will never understand why Eric Bieniemy never got an NFL head coaching job. And now that he's in the college game, it seems farther away than ever for Eric.

Football is the kind of sport that isn't very forgiving when it comes to having time to turn things around. If a coach or staffers aren't working out in a very short period of time, fans and owners usually move on quickly. I get it. There is a lot at stake. But, that said, each year, several NFL teams end up looking very different from what they did the year prior. The upcoming 2024 season is shaping up to be one of those seasons. So, let's get into some NFL teams that will look very different in 2024.

Before I get into the list, I want to point out one of the main reasons why so many teams will look different in 2024 than they did in 2023. Lots of head coaches are changing. Believe it or not, the NFL is replacing a quarter of its head coaches in 2024. That's so wacky. But, it should make for some really exciting games coming up. I'm not one to wish away the spring and summer, but fall can't get here fast enough.

One team that I'm not including on this list, and one that might draw controversy, is the New England Patriots. They will be entering their first year without longstanding head coach Bill Belichick. So, why wouldn't they be a team that's going to look vastly different next season? Well, they're bringing on Jerod Mayo, who is totally in the family. He's been with the Patriots for years. Robert Kraft promoted the former Patriots star from within, much like former player Dan Campbell was given the head coaching role with the Detroit Lions. So, yeah, not too different, in my opinion.

Here are five NFL teams that will look vastly different in 2024. Which teams are you going to be watching next season? Hit us up on social media and let us know. Find the 2024 NFL schedule here.

The Seattle Seahawks are headed for a major makeover, especially when it comes to their defense. They've brought on Mike Macdonald, who is the former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. Seattle's defense is going to improve greatly with him in charge, and they could look like a different team.

It's happening. Jim Harbaugh is back in the NFL. Why? He's very motivated to get a Super Bowl. He's fresh off a national championship win with the Wolverines, to boot. He also has a great quarterback in Justin Herbert. Other than Herbert, though, expect some big changes here.

For the Carolina Panthers, there's really nowhere to go but up. Now, the team has a new head coach (again) in Dave Canales. He's a great fit for them, but he has a lot of work to do. Expect major changes. He bring experience from his time with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Las Vegas Raiders let go of their coach, Josh McDaniels, before the season was even finished, because yes, things were that bad. Antonio Pierce was a bit of a hero and helped Las Vegas come back at the end of last season. He's now their new head coach, and he'll have to make a lot of changes to get this team to where they need to be.

The Washington Commanders have been hurting lately, so Dan Quinn to the rescue. He helped take the Falcons to Super Bowl 51, so he has experience. He's also working to make some big changes going into the next season, and yes, they will need them if they want to be competitive.

So, what teams will not look any different in 2024? It's a safe bet that the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will try to stay with what's been working for them. The Ravens will look different, with a new defensive coordinator. Also, the Eagles will look different this year, although they're keeping the core of their team, being their head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts.