Colorado Football: Top 5 Candidates to Replace Mike MacIntyre

5. Eric Bieniemy (OC/Kansas City Chiefs)

A popular name that will get thrown around is former Colorado All-American, and Heisman Trophy finalist, running back Eric Bieniemy, who was a finalist for the Buffaloes head coaching job back in 2011.

Along with being a beloved former player Bieniemy has had two different stings coaching at his alma mater. He got his coaching career started in Boulder, spending two seasons as the team’s running backs coach in 2001-02. After being the runner-up to another former Buff in Jon Embree in 2011, Bieniemy was brought on as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Embree’s tenure was disastrous, with Colorado managing just four wins over his two seasons as the head coach. The entire staff was let go following the 2012 season, and Bieniemy was out of coaching for a year until Andy Reid brought him to Kansas City in 2013 as the team’s running backs coach. He was promoted this offseason to offensive coordinator, and has overseen an explosive Chiefs offense piloted by sensational second-year QB Patrick Mahomes.

Bieniemy would undoubtedly energize the fanbase as a beloved former hero at the university. The total misfire of the Embree era when the Buffaloes last went for a nostalgic hire could be what ultimately prevents George from pulling the trigger and bringing Bieniemy back home.

There’s also some baggage that comes with him stemming from a DUI arrest in 2001 during his first coaching stint in Boulder, but he’s had no such issues in the 17 years since.

He has aspirations of being a head coach, and he may very well get that opportunity in the NFL before too long if things keep going as well as they have been in Kansas City. But the lure of Mama calling could bring him back to the college ranks.