It’s been an offseason of change for the Kansas City Chiefs early on. One of their key moves thus far, however, sees them reunite with an old friend.
Eric Bieniemy is back as offensive coordinator. The veteran leader has held the role before, but he now comes back to Kansas City after years of learning in other spots. He already has thoughts on improving the run game, which is desperately needed.
Why did Bieniemy choose to leave the Chicago Bears after just one season? Despite the success he helped them achieve, one thing stood out about this venture.
Why Did Eric Bieniemy Return to Chiefs? ‘It Felt Like Home’
Kansas City is where his heart remains.
“It felt like home,” Bieniemy said. “That was the beauty of it. It was real, real tough making this decision, but it was an opportunity to come home, and it was like leaving home. If Big Red (Andy Reid) ever picks up the phone, that’s the only person you’ll say, ‘Hey, you know what, it may be time to return home’ because he’s giving me this opportunity.”
Bieniemy says he got a call from Reid the day after Chicago’s January 18 Divisional Round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. That allegedly got the wheels moving for a return, resulting in him reclaiming a familiar role with the NFL’s best team of the last decade.
Under Bieniemy’s tutelage as running backs coach, the Bears’ run game thrived. Veteran D’Andre Swift turned in a 1,087-yard, 9-touchdown campaign. Rookie draft pick Kyle Monangai was also productive, rushing for 783 yards and 5 scores of his own. According to SumerSports, Chicago owned the fourth-best rush offense on an EPA per play basis.
Since the end of the 2022 season, Bieniemy’s most recent one with the Chiefs, he spent time with the Washington Commanders, UCLA Bruins and Bears. Now 56 years old, he’s ready to put his experience to the test.
“I think it’s helped me in a number of ways because when you’re doing it on your own, you’ve got to find creative ways to implement a system,” Bieniemy said. “On top of that, you learn a lot about yourself — the good, the bad and the ugly. All ideas are not bad ideas; we just need to be receptive to them. Just the dynamic of working with people, learning how to communicate and articulate your plan and getting them to buy in, I think all of that helps.”
Commitment to Excellence Remains Consistent for Bieniemy
Over the years, Bieniemy has garnered quite the reputation. A buzzword for the Chiefs as of late is “accountability,” which he’s synonymous with. Bieniemy runs a tight ship, regardless of what role he’s fulfilling. In an organization with championship aspirations, that can oftentimes go a long way.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce are obvious fans of Bieniemy’s style. When Mahomes recently described his ideal offensive coordinator, he said he wanted someone who could “hold people accountable.” It’s something the team isn’t shying away from one bit.
After years to reflect and grow, does Bieniemy still possess the same hard shell when necessary? He doesn’t believe that will ever go away.
“I’ll say this… there are some things about me that have changed,” Bieniemy began. “More than anything, EB is EB. We will still be disciplined and detailed in everything and how we handle our business. There’s a standard of performance, there’s a standard of excellence, that will be expected.
“On top of that, there’s been a great deal of wealth that I’ve learned through the good and through the bad. The thing that I appreciate is it’s just helped me to grow into this role and have this opportunity to be in this situation again.”
Reid seems quite comfortable bringing a familiar face back into the fold. For the organization and its staff, this is a situation that doesn’t feel stale. Instead, it’s a near-perfect combination of opportunity and timing.
Bieniemy, especially, seems to view it that way.
