Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has returned to the team's training camp, stating that his wife, Mia Bieniemy, gave him her blessing to rejoin the club as she continues to recover from a shooting incident at their Virginia home. Mia Bieniemy was shot on July 26 and is now reported to be in stable condition and on a "great road to recovery."
Eric Bieniemy had left the Chiefs to be with his family following the incident. Their 27-year-old son, Elijah Bieniemy, has been arrested and faces charges including malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. His court proceedings are pending a mental health evaluation.
Speaking publicly about the event for the first time, Bieniemy expressed his gratitude for his wife's progress and resilience. "She's truly a soldier. She's a saint. And it's been incredible to watch," he said, crediting her recovery as a primary reason for his return to coaching. "So she was like, 'You have my blessing to leave,' so it was time to get back."
During his absence, Bieniemy remained connected to the Chiefs, watching practices remotely and participating in team meetings. He even engaged with coaching decisions, discussing plays with general manager Brett Veach while on a call with head coach Andy Reid.
"I was yelling at the screen, yelling at players, yelling at coaches — 'What the hell are we doing?!' I'm yelling at myself, 'Why would you put that play in?!'" Bieniemy recounted with a smile, emphasizing his continued commitment to the team.
Bieniemy joined the Chiefs as offensive coordinator for the 2023 season, returning to a team where he had previously contributed to three Super Bowl appearances and two victories. He had spent the prior season as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders. Before that, he had a stint with UCLA and coached running backs for the Chicago Bears.
Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton welcomed Bieniemy's return, noting his impact on the team. "It's great to have him back. We missed him and prayed for his family when he was out," Bolton said. "But to have a guy like that come back to the field, man, a competitor — it brings out the best in us."
Bieniemy extended his thanks to the Hunt family and the entire Chiefs organization for their support during the challenging time for his family. "And with all that said, we're back to football."