Can Eric Bieniemy Help Reignite Travis Kelce’s Role in Kansas City?
As the Kansas City Chiefs bask in the aftermath of yet another Super Bowl run, one of the biggest questions looming over the franchise isn’t about Patrick Mahomes or the defense-it’s about the future of Travis Kelce.
At 36, Kelce remains one of the most recognizable faces in the NFL, but his production took a noticeable dip this past season. He finished with 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns-solid numbers by most standards, but a step back from the 97 receptions he hauled in just two years ago. For a player who’s been the heartbeat of Kansas City’s offense for the better part of a decade, that decline has raised eyebrows inside and outside the building.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs were planning to meet with Kelce after the Super Bowl to discuss what’s next for the veteran tight end. And it’s not just Kelce’s age or stat line driving the conversation-it’s the offensive identity of the team as a whole.
A Familiar Face Returns
Earlier this offseason, the Chiefs made a notable change at offensive coordinator. Matt Nagy is out, heading to the New York Giants in the same role.
In his place? Eric Bieniemy, returning to Kansas City after a stint elsewhere to take the reins of the offense once again.
Bieniemy’s return isn’t just a reunion-it might be a strategic reset. According to Jesse Palmer on The Athletic’s “Scoop City” podcast, there’s been buzz around the league that the move was partially aimed at fixing what many saw as a misfire in the Chiefs’ offensive approach: not leaning on Kelce enough in key moments.
“Maybe we stalled out for a few different reasons as an offense in Kansas City,” Palmer said. “And EB might be able to change some of those.”
One of the more pointed observations? That Kelce wasn’t prioritized in the passing progression as often as he should have been. For a player with his chemistry with Mahomes, that’s a surprising shift-and one the Chiefs may now be trying to correct.
Bieniemy’s Blueprint
During his introductory press conference, Bieniemy made it clear he’s bringing a fresh perspective to the playbook-especially when it comes to the ground game. He referenced his time working under Ben Johnson in Chicago, where the Bears found success with creative run schemes and tight end usage.
“We’re going to make sure we can do the things we can do best,” Bieniemy said. “Have I been exposed to a number of run schemes?
Yes. We need to find what we do best.”
That philosophy doesn’t just apply to the backfield. One of the most interesting wrinkles from Johnson’s Bears offense last season was how he featured rookie tight end Colston Loveland, who ended up leading the team in receiving yards. If Bieniemy plans to bring that same tight end-friendly approach back to Kansas City, it could be exactly what Kelce needs to finish strong.
The Final Act?
Kelce’s future is still up in the air, but the pieces are being put in place for a potential resurgence. He’s not the same player he was five years ago-few are at 36-but with Bieniemy back in the fold and a renewed focus on maximizing what the offense does best, the door is open for Kelce to reclaim a central role.
Whether this is the beginning of the end or a late-career renaissance, one thing is clear: the Chiefs aren’t ready to move on from Travis Kelce just yet. And with Eric Bieniemy calling the shots again, they might not have to.