After a season that felt more like a detour than a continuation of the Chiefs’ dynasty, Kansas City is turning to a familiar voice to recalibrate its offensive identity. Eric Bieniemy, the architect behind some of the most explosive years of the Patrick Mahomes era, is heading back to Arrowhead as offensive coordinator.
Let’s be honest - 2025 was rough. The Chiefs stumbled to a 6-11 record, a stunning fall for a team that’s been a fixture in late January football.
Mahomes battled through injury, Travis Kelce didn’t look like himself, and the offense as a whole never found its rhythm. But now, with Bieniemy returning to the fold, the Chiefs are clearly banking on a return to what once made them nearly unstoppable.
Bieniemy’s history in Kansas City runs deep. He joined the staff back in 2013 and climbed the ladder from running backs coach to offensive coordinator by 2018.
From there, the Chiefs’ offense took off like a rocket - culminating in Super Bowl wins in LIV and LVII. During that span, Bieniemy helped oversee one of the most dynamic and creative offenses in modern NFL history.
His fingerprints were all over the misdirection, motion-heavy sets, and red-zone wizardry that became Kansas City’s calling card.
Despite that success, Bieniemy never landed the head coaching opportunity many believed he’d earned. He left Kansas City in 2023 to become the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in Washington, but things didn’t pan out. The Commanders slogged through a 4-13 season, leading to the dismissal of head coach Ron Rivera - and ultimately, Bieniemy’s exit as well.
He then made a brief stop at UCLA, taking the same role with the Bruins, but the offense underwhelmed and his tenure was cut short. In 2025, he returned to the NFL as the running backs coach for the Chicago Bears, a quieter role but one that kept him close to the league.
Now, he’s back in Kansas City - and the timing couldn’t be more intriguing.
One of the biggest questions hovering over the Chiefs this offseason is the future of Travis Kelce. At 36, the tight end has openly discussed the possibility of retirement. But Bieniemy’s return may be a game-changer in that decision.
Why? Because the numbers don’t lie: Kelce’s five best statistical seasons all came under Bieniemy’s watch.
From 2018 to 2022, Kelce was a matchup nightmare, posting at least 1,100 receiving yards every year and hitting double-digit touchdowns three times - the only such seasons of his career. Bieniemy knew exactly how to scheme him open, how to move him around the formation, and how to get the most out of one of the league’s most unique offensive weapons.
Kelce himself seems thrilled. On the “New Heights” podcast, he lit up at the news of Bieniemy’s return: “I can’t wait to see [Bieniemy] back in the building, man,” Kelce said.
“He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time. One of my favorite people of all time.”
That’s not just nostalgia talking. It’s a player who knows what this move could mean - not just for him, but for the entire offense. Mahomes and Bieniemy have a chemistry that’s been forged in big moments, and if they can recapture even a piece of the magic that brought two Lombardi trophies to Kansas City, the Chiefs could be right back in the thick of the title hunt.
This isn’t just a feel-good reunion. It’s a strategic reset. And for a franchise that’s set the bar sky-high over the last half-decade, it might be exactly what they need.