Head coach Andy Reid is going back to what once made the Kansas City Chiefs‘ offense feel untouchable. Coming off a losing season, he chose not to reinvent the wheel and instead opted for familiarity. So, on the first day in-person interviews were permitted, the Chiefs made just one request: Eric Bieniemy.

“Done deal: The Chiefs agreed to terms with Eric Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator, per source,” insider Tom Pelissero posted on X. “Coming off the worst season of the Patrick Mahomes era, Andy Reid brings back a familiar face in Bieniemy, who was part of two Super Bowl wins in KC.”

The re-hired coach is hard to ignore on the sideline, constantly barking through the chaos with a sharp “Finish! Finish!” during practice sessions. Yet, his hiring doesn’t come without concerns. The primary reservation has been whether Bieniemy can re-execute what he did at Kansas City as an offensive coordinator from 2018-2022, especially given his post-Chiefs performance.

When Bieniemy left Reid’s arsenal to pursue playcalling duties full-time at the Washington Commanders in 2023, he did so with great fanfare and a proven track record. However, by the end of the season, the team finished 23rd in offensive scoring, 30th in rush rate and 24th in third-down efficiency. The offense was evidently inconsistent, with second-year quarterback Sam Howell’s performance taking a notable downturn.

Instead of leaning on Howell’s strengths, Bieniemy’s complex offensive philosophy ended up overwhelming the quarterback. To put it in numbers, in just three games to start the season, Howell was sacked a staggering 19 times, six more than any quarterback. That number ended up being 65 over the whole season, a clear indication that Howell was not a good fit. Even off the field, frustrations ran heavy.

Per a report by the Washington Post, tight end Logan Thomas and wide receiver Terry McLaurin complained practice sessions felt like cardio sessions instead. “Some players felt Bieniemy’s intense practices, though helpful in training camp, left them exhausted before games, and they believed the practices created a greater risk of injury,” the report further read, talking about his one-year stint.

Then, with the UCLA in 2024, Bieniemy was fired again after one season as the team ranked 126th in points per game. Thankfully, his next job at the Chicago Bears proved to be a much-needed respite, a fact running backs D-Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai can definitely attest to. Bieniemy led the team to the league’s second-best rushing offense, with Swift recording a career-high 1,087 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns. Seventh-round rookie Monangai, on the other hand, generated 947 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. Overall, the team was also ranked third in the league with 4.9 yard-per-carry average.

Now back in Kansas City, Bieniemy’s priority will be elevating the players around Mahomes, particularly the wide receivers like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The need was evident this season, when the offense often stalled against man-to-man coverage.

Andy Reid’s hopes lie on Eric Bieniemy’s shoulders

Mahomes fought through the team’s woes, but his 62.7 completion percentage, the lowest of his career, reflected just how difficult those situations became. But Bieniemy’s potential contribution won’t end there.

The Chiefs got little out of their running backs this season, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt posting some of the league’s weakest production. Pacheco didn’t break off a single run of 20-plus yards, and Hunt had only one. With Bieniemy previously helping turn Chicago’s rushing attack into the NFL’s second-best unit, the Chiefs’ running back position now looks like another spot where his influence could be felt.

Bieniemy steps back into a role he knows well. In 2022, with Bieniemy still calling plays, the Chiefs led the NFL with 413.6 yards and 29.2 points per game. Even in his previous seasons, the team finished no lower than sixth in points per game. But in 2025, the offense ranked 20th in yards at 320.6 and 21st in scoring at 21.3 points per game.

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Meanwhile, Matt Nagy exits as his contract runs out, despite drawing interest as a finalist for the Titans job before Tennessee hired Robert Saleh. Nagy spent the past two weeks giving interviews.

So yes, Reid knows what Bieniemy brings back to Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won two Super Bowls with him before, and after missing the playoffs in 2025, the mission feels clear. Even tight end Travis Kelce has made his feelings known, and with Reid directly involved in the call, Kansas City believes this reunion puts them back on the right road.

Travis Kelce is happy about Eric Bieniemy’s return

Before anything became official, the buzz was already loud, and Travis Kelce made it clear where he stood.

“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man,” Kelce on the New Heights podcast. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable, growing moments under him as a player, as a person, and I just love the guy, and it’s gonna be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs logo.”

Naturally, that bond did not come out of nowhere. Kelce spent most of his NFL life with Eric Bieniemy as a core voice on Andy Reid’s staff. Bieniemy was part of the Chiefs for a decade, first shaping the run game from 2013 to 2017. Then, starting in 2018, he took over the offense.

So, when reports surfaced about a possible reunion, Kelce wasted no time backing it. That kind of confidence carries weight inside the locker room. Then, there is the bigger picture.

Kelce is 36, and retirement talk follows him every offseason. Still, saying he is excited to see Bieniemy back in the building feels telling. It sounds less like closure and more like preparation. For Chiefs fans, it hints that Kelce may be gearing up for one more run in 2026, right back where it feels familiar.

That said, even Mahomes is excited to have Bieniemy back. The quarterback reacted to it on Wednesday by posting an old photo of himself and Bieniemy. It was a telling sign that the locker room is elated to work with Bieniemy once again.