The Chiefs were right to trust Eric Bieniemy with their broken offense

Coming into the offseason, maybe the biggest question the Kansas City Chiefs had to answer was: Who will be the new offensive coordinator? With former OC Matt Nagy's contract expiring and the offense clearly regressing, everyone figured Kansas City would go in a new direction. But instead, the Chiefs opted to reunite with an old friend in a move that made waves across the Chiefs community.

Eric Bieniemy's return was highly contested across the Chiefs community, as many fans felt the Chiefs' loyalty was getting the best of them again. Andy Reid and the rest of the Chiefs staff have been known for their allegiance to certain coaches and players, for better or for worse.

Even Nagy coached the Chiefs from 2013 to 2017 before he was hired as OC after Bieniemy left the team in 2023. Fan frustration began to brew as many felt the Chiefs needed to wipe the slate clean and bring in new ideas.

Why the Chiefs brought Eric Bieniemy back

The 2025 season was a disaster for the Chiefs, who posted their worst record in over a decade and finished with the ninth-worst record in football. Injuries killed them down the stretch, but the reality was that the offense was not good enough all year. Kansas City had one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL and struggled to generate explosive plays all year, and it became clear that change was needed.

Bieniemy had made his rounds since leaving Kansas City just three years prior. Bieniemy took a job calling plays for the Washington Commanders, a role he knew he wouldn't get if he stayed with the Chiefs. But he was dealt a bad hand and was let go after Ron Rivera was fired that offseason. He then became the OC for UCLA, which also went up in flames before he became the Bears' RB coach for the 2025 season.

Bieniemy's bread and butter has always been running backs. He played the position, became a second-round pick out of Colorado in 1991, and coached for many years before joining the Chiefs. In 2025, he helped DeAndre Swift break out with the best season of his career and helped push the Bears to finish third in rushing yards per game and per attempt. So when the Chiefs needed to resurrect their running back room, it felt like a match made in heaven.

Bieniemy's impact was immediate in Week 1

Still, doubts lingered about what Bieniemy would bring to the table, and many fans worried it would be more of the same offense we saw in 2025. But in Week 1, the Chiefs offense silenced those concerns, finishing with a 31-10 win and 220 rushing yards. New backs Kenneth Walker and Emmett Johnson completely reshaped the Chiefs' run game, and EB's impact was already clear.

Bieniemy is bringing more than a better run game

Anyone in the Chiefs organization will tell you that, for better or worse, Bieniemy will speak up when he sees something and hold you accountable. Players, coaches, and even management have echoed this sentiment, saying Bieniemy makes them better at their jobs. While this sentiment may seem simple, the Chiefs clearly lacked it, and all offseason players raved about what Bieniemy brings to the facility.

In a room with big names like Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and many more, Bieniemy pushes every player to keep polishing their game. The Chiefs know that even the best of the best are not perfect, and that during Bieniemy's time with Kansas City, he brought out the best in everyone.

Bieniemy is also known for creativity, maybe best displayed by the Chiefs’ last touchdown against the Broncos. In his first stint with Kansas City, Andy Reid and other coaches mentioned that Bieniemy often studied tape from the 1900s to find new play ideas to incorporate into the offense, something that was displayed yet again on Monday.

While there were doubts about what Bieniemy would bring in his return to Kansas City, he and the rest of the offense silenced any doubt that things wouldn't change in 2026. The Chiefs were under center more than ever and clearly adapted their offense to their roster and the ever-changing environment of the NFL.

The culture is clearly different at the Chiefs facility, and everyone has that competitive edge that helped them win two Super Bowls while Bieniemy was there. He has brought new ideas, challenged coaches and players to change, and we are already seeing his impact in Kansas City. So regardless of what you thought when the Chiefs hired Bieniemy, it is clear he's brought change and was the right man for the job.

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