Former NFL player-turned-coach Eric Bieniemy is the father of two sons with his wife, Mia Bieniemy. His oldest son, Eric III, is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Eric III, now 30, used to play basketball for college for a short time. He was diagnosed with the condition before he was ten.
While Bieniemy talks about his oldest son, he keeps his younger son out of the spotlight- rarely shares pictures with him or takes him to the football grounds.
Eric played football professionally from 1987 to 1990, and after retirement, he began his coaching career.
He is currently the associate head coach and offensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins, whose alumni with NFL impact include Demetric Felton, Paul Perkins, Joshua Kelley, and Carson Steele.
As a coach, Bieniemy became a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, which has become home to players like Kareem Hunt, De’Anthony Thomas, and Xavier Worthy.
The 55-year-old coach is one of the most sought-after football managers in American Football. So, it sure does take a lot to convince him to join any team.
However, UCLA found a soft-soft: his son, Eric III. The father-son love between Eric and his oldest son has been the talk of the town for some years now. For instance, the coach’s struggle during the COVID to protect his son became the headline.
The 55-year-old Offensive coordinator has often said how his son has been holding him together and how he has become an inspiration. In saying this, Eric III has maintained a low profile.
So, in this article, we will cover everything we know about the eldest son of the two-time Super Bowl winner Bieniemy.
Key Takeaways:
- Eric Bieniemy has two sons named Eric III and Elijah Bieniemy.
- Bieniemy’s eldest son, Eric III, who is 30, has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and respiratory illness.
- Eric has been married to his long-term partner, Mia Bieniemy.
- Eric Bieniemy’s younger son Elijah was initially passionate about sports, including Football, but didn’t pursue a career in sports.
Eric Bieniemy’s Oldest Son Was Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy Before He Was Ten
Eric Bieniemy’s Oldest Son, Eric III, was born the first son of Eric Bieniemy Jr. and Mia Bieniemy. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy early in his childhood. The football coach’s eldest son has kept the family together despite the condition.
The 55-year-old football coach said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, “My son can’t walk. He can’t talk. He can’t even turn himself over in the bed like he would want to. But every day, he wants to be treated with love. To me, that’s inspirational.”
Eric III has had the condition since childhood. However, he has never complained or taken action, which inspires the Bieniemy family.
The two-time Super Bowl-winning coach said, “When he gets up every morning, he is excited to go to school and meet his friends. Similarly, he sees his family and is excited about all those little things.”
Unsurprisingly, he cannot do easy things for others, but he has adapted to be comfortable with what he has. Even now, at 30, he has been living an everyday life. Unfortunately, he has not revealed what he is doing professionally. Likewise, he is not active on social media, making it difficult to get more information about his current state.
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The CU Athletic Hall of Fame Coach Eric Made The Ultimate Sacrifice During the COVID To Protect His Son
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy lived in a hotel six days a week during the 2020 COVID-19 NFL season. He stayed in the hotel from July 23 through the Super Bowl in February to protect his family, more specifically, his son Eric III, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and chronic respiratory illness.
His older son, having several health issues, was at high risk of contracting and being extremely sick from COVID-19.
Bieniemy would spend six nights a week at a hotel, only going home to his family on Fridays. And even then, under strict safety guidelines. He slept in the basement, avoided contact with his family, and wore two masks in his house.
Bieniemy told reporters before Super Bowl LV, “It’s been this way for the past six months.” He added, “It’s been a challenge.” This sacrifice paid off well, as all his family members, including his wife and two sons, were safe from COVID-19.
However, something worse was in the way for the family man. Only a few weeks before the nation and the world came to a lockdown, the Bieniemy family had attended Super Bowl LIV. After the NFL announced that the season would be drastically changed to address the global pandemic, Bienemy was separated from his loved ones for 200 days, or six months and 16 days.
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Eric Bieniemy Has Been Married To His Wife, Mia Bieniemy, For Over Three Decades
Eric and Mia Bieniemy first met in Colorado and decided to date for some time before they finally tied the knot. The romantic couple married before Bieniemy started his coaching career.
During their long marriage, Eric and Mia welcomed two sons. The couple was previously settled in Colorado. However, the family of four was constantly moving because Eric needed to move across the country when he signed for a new team.
Mia can usually be seen in the Football games and other events to support her partner.
In addition, Mia, who is currently 58, does not have much of an age difference from Eric, who is currently 55. She was born Mia Tonae Maxie in Texas on October 28, 1968.
Furthermore, Mia seems to be a full-time mother who looks after their two kids, specifically Eric III. She is not active on any social media platforms.
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Eric Bieniemy’s Younger Son Elijah Bieniemy Is Also In Sports
Eric’s second son, Elijah Bieniemy, also loves sports. He played Football for Vanderbilt as a wide receiver and later participated in Track and field.
According to Athletic Net, he participated in the 2016 outdoor Olathe Northwest 100M and 200M races during high school. Likewise, he participated in the 2017 Outdoor Olathe Northwest 100 m race, 4*100 m relay, and 4*200 m relay.
Elijah was added to the Olathe Northwest 2013-14 wrestling roster on December 11, 2013. Likewise, he was added to the Olathe Northwest 2016 football roster in June 2016. He played a few games with the Olathe Northwest Football team.
Despite having a decent playing career during high school and college, he never pursued a professional career in any sport.
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Bidhya Sagar Shrestha is an experienced content writer with a solid content creation and digital marketing background. His majors in entrepreneurship and marketing give him a deep understanding of business environments and marketing strategies.
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