NEW ORLEANS — Chiefs guard Trey Smith’s eyes lit up when he was asked about one of the Bears’ newest assistant coaches Monday.
Eric Bieniemy, the Chiefs offensive coordinator from 2018-22, was hired on Saturday to be the Bears’ running backs coach. Smith listed the traits that he said would help Bieniemy improve the Bears.
“Energy. Juice. Discipline, man,” Smith said. “EB’s gonna bring it every single time. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for EB and who he is as a coach and a person. I love him and his family. EB is gonna bring that juice every single day.
“He holds you to a different standard. A lot of players shy away from it. But that’s EB. He just wants the best out of you. He wants the best for you and he’s gonna push you further than you think you can be pushed.”
Smith’s opinion of Bieniemy should intrigue the Bears. He’s expected to be the best offensive lineman on the market in March. He said that, with the Super Bowl looming, he’s given little thought to free agency.