The Chicago Bears have been connected to running backs heavily leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft due in part to head coach Ben Johnson’s influence on the offense. But if/when the Bears add a new runner, he’ll be working closely with new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy.
Bieniemy, the long-time Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator, is returning to the NFL ranks after a one-year reunion with UCLA. He is coming with Chicago with a wealth of offensive knowledge and two Super Bowl rings. Johnson will lean on Bieniemy heavily as he enters his first season as an NFL head coach.
In turn, Bieniemy understands the importance of fixing the team’s running game. He is well aware of the ties Chicago has had to nearly every running back in the case. But whoever the Bears end up adding, Bieniemy is prepared to help them reach their peak and become a leader in the team’s backfield, via Dan Wiederer and Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune.
“There’s a number of guys that are coming out and my thing is, the guys up top (in the front office) and the head coach are going to make the best decision for our organization,” Bieniemy said. “That’s the only thing that matters. If we decide to draft one, you know what, we’re going to bring him into the building, we’re going to put our arms around him and we’re going to treat him just like he’s one of the rest of the guys, whether he’s drafted or he’s a street free agent.”
What Eric Bieniemy is working with
The Bears finished their 2024 campaign ranked 25th in rushing, averaging 102 yards per game. Part of the issue was the offensive line. Playing below par, there wasn’t enough room for the running backs to operate. Chicago has since remedied that issue, trading for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney while signing center Drew Dalman.
At the same time, D’Andre Swift must show vast improvement to main his starting role. His debut with the Bears saw him earn a career-high 253 carries, running for 959 yards and six touchdowns. The near 1,000 yards may look nice, but Swift averaged just 3.8 yards per touchdown. He needs to be more consistent with the ball in his hands heading into 2025.
It’s important to note that in Johnson’s final season with the Detroit Lions, the team ranked sixth in rushing, averaging 146.4 yards per game. While it’s unfair to expect the Bears to become rushing world beaters over night, it shows how important the run game is in Johnson’s offense. Bieniemy’s main goal is ensuring Chicago employs a dynamic approach on the ground each game.
The Lions saw both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery score over 10 rushing touchdowns in 2024. So in a sense, Swift can still have a role even if the Bears draft a running back. Still, the position will be monitored closely heading into the season as the franchise is expecting major growth.
Who Chicago Bears can add
If the Bears stay at No. 10 and use their selection on a running back, the logical selection is Boise State star Ashton Jeanty. Coming off of his Heisman runner-up campaign, Jeanty is the consensus No. 1 running back in the 2025 class. He is expected to be an immediate difference maker in any team’s backfield.
But there’s always a chance Jeanty isn’t available at Chicago’s selection. Furthermore, they may be unwilling to go with a running back so early in the draft even if he was. Working in the Bears’ favor for either scenario is how deep the position is in 2025.
Seven running backs rank inside the top 100 on Ed Edholm of NFL.com’s rankings. None may offer what Jeanty does, but each would give the Bears a intriguing running back to build around. Omarion Hampton has gotten plenty of buzz as the RB2. TreVeyon Henderson and Kaleb Johnson are battling for the honors. Bears legend Lance Briggs wants to see the team take Cam Skattebo.
The point is, Chicago will have plenty of opportunities to find their running back of the future in the 2025 NFL Draft. Bieniemy is ready for them all and ready to introduce a new culture of success to the Bears’ ground game.
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