RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesST. JOSEPH, MO – It didn’t take long for the wrath of Eric Bieniemy to ring out during the Kansas City Chiefs training camp.
A little more than an hour into the first rookie camp practice on Saturday, as they worked on red zone plays, fourth-round cornerback Jadon Canady intercepted an ill-advised pass in traffic and raced down the field for a would-be pick-six. Never mind that in a real game it probably would not have held up, given the overt mugging of the receiver.
Regardless, not a single player chased Canady as he strolled with the football.
Bieniemy went ballistic.
Yes, Bieniemy is back with full force. He has returned to his NFL family, he insists, back as the Chiefs offensive coordinator three years after leaving to theoretically improve his chances to become a head coach. He spent last season as the Chicago Bears running backs coach, and a day after that team was eliminated in the NFC divisional playoffs, Chiefs coach Andy Reid called and offered him his old job back after Matt Nagy’s contract wasn’t renewed .
"It was hard to pass up when the head man picks up the phone and says, ‘B, let’s get this thing going,'" Bieniemy told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive interview.
A hunch: If the Chiefs rebound and become a contender again after stumbling to 6-11 in 2025 and missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, bringing back Bieniemy, 56, will prove to be one of Reid’s most pivotal moves during an offseason of picking up the pieces while star quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovers from knee surgery . They’ve missed his fiery passion.
The snapshot during the first practice – as Bieniemy scolded players with his booming voice reverberating from midfield – illustrated one reason it matters.
"First of all, mistake," Bieniemy said while recalling the sequence. "The quarterback may have thrown a bad pass, OK. You may have gotten held, OK. When it’s all said and done, we’ve always got to learn to strain the finish. Every play is not going to be perfect. But how you finish tells the exact story because rather than have a 99-yard touchdown return we can get a tackle around the 10-yard line and our defense can go out here and make a play. So, we don’t want to take anything for granted when placed in those situations."
What Eric Bieniemy's return means to the Chiefs
In his previous, 10-year stint on the Chiefs staff, Bieniemy coordinated the offense for five years (2018-2022), a period that included two Super Bowl titles. Although Reid calls the plays and the Chiefs won and lost a Super Bowl after Bieniemy left in 2023 to become the Washington Commanders OC and assistant head coach, it’s safe to suggest that Kansas City’s offense never replaced his energy.
Sure, talent is crucial and designs that bring the playbook to life are essential, but one reason Bieniemy is among the most respected coaches in the league can be found in the tough-love respect he commands from players. His connection with his boss goes back to 1999, when Bieniemy played his final season as a running back with the Eagles in Reid’s first year as a head coach.
"He’s one of the more phenomenal guys I’ve been around as a leader of men," Reid said. "And he’s doing that. He’s cranking, worked his tail off. Appreciate that. Doesn’t let anything slide by."
That’s on the calling card. Shoot, during his lone season with the Commanders, when he went from Mahomes to Sam Howell as his starting quarterback, some players thought Bieniemy was too intense – to the point that they complained to head coach Ron Rivera. The nerve.
"You’re always going to have a few bad apples," Bieniemy said, reminded of the Washington experience – which ended with the franchise cleaning house after that season. "But there were some guys that did appreciate some of the things we did. In this business, if you’re going to be successful, you’ve got to be willing to work for it."
Which spins us back to the current task for Bieniemy. Although Mahomes shared as camp opened that he wants to get rid the football quicker and run less than he did last season in posting a career-high 422 rushing yards, there are so many elements around the quarterback that need a lift.
The Chiefs haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt in 2017, which is why the free agent addition of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III promises to add another dimension. Of course, the scheme still revolves around Mahomes’ arm, but Bieniemy will tell you that the championship teams have to have the ability to reliably run when needed.
"It’s kind of ironic that we’re talking about that because Damien Williiams, if doesn’t have the game that he had when he had it, we’re not sitting here having this discussion, man," Bieniemy said, alluding to Williams’ multi-tasking role (133 rushing-receiving yards, 2 TDs) in the Chiefs' Super Bowl 54 triumph against the 49ers that gave the franchise its first crown in 50 years.
"You’ve got to be able to play complementary football."
This would include better protection for Mahomes, who took more sacks over the past two seasons (70) than in any back-to-back campaigns of his career – which puts a spotlight on the offensive line that will be counted on to spring Walker. And the chain reaction links to conceivably improving chances of developing a more consistent deep passing game, which Mahomes has talked about for at least two years, that can produce more impact for young receivers Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice.
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"We still have to put everything together," said Bieniemy, awaiting the arrival of veteran players on Tuesday, July 28. "Part of going to training camp is making sure we can fundamentally grow together as an offensive unit. And then on top of that, just seeing exactly what we have…so we can figure out what’s what. We’ll take ...
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