UCLA is reportedly moving to add a prominent assistant coach to DeShaun Foster’s staff with the Bruins.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Adam Schefter, UCLA is finalizing a deal to make former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy the OC for the Bruins. Thamel is reporting a two-year deal for Bieniemy with the additional role of associate head coach.

Bieniemy spent the 2023 season with the Washington Commanders but was previously on Andy Reid’s Kansas City staff from 2013-22. He originally joined Reid’s staff as running backs coach and served 2018-22 as the OC, helping the Chiefs win 2 Super Bowl titles in that time span.

Bieniemy starred at Colorado as a running back and spent 9 seasons in the NFL, including 4 with the Los Angeles Chargers. He also spent previous time at UCLA as RBs coach from 2003-05 on Karl Dorrell’s staff. While serving as Reid’s OC, Kansas City was consistently one of the best offenses in the NFL while Bieniemy helped develop superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

According to Bieniemy, he had opportunities to remain in the NFL but cited the “timing” of winding up at UCLA.

“At this time in my life, the opportunity affords me the pleasure of continuing in to be a maker and leader of men, to do what I love, follow my passion and my dreams while not compromising on who I am as a man,” Bieniemy wrote to ESPN.

Bieniemy also called it a “great opportunity” to support Foster and called it a homecoming for his family. Bieniemy also wants to “generate some excitement” for players to consider the Bruins as the program embarks on the Big Ten move.

“This is a great opportunity for me to help support DeShaun as a head coach, to work with him and to work for him as well,” Bieniemy wrote. “My goal is to help him to be a successful head coach in our profession.

“It’s an opportunity for my family and I to return back to a place that we once called home.”

Landing Bieniemy is certainly a splashy and big-impact type of move for Foster’s staff at UCLA. His extensive experience in the NFL, particularly under Reid, should serve the Bruins well as the program prepares for a new era of life in the Big Ten and a brand new landscape across college football.