How Eric Bieniemy stays engaged with Chiefs while tending to wife, who recovers from alleged shooting by son
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is dealing with a family tragedy after his son, Elijah, allegedly shot his wife, Mia, multiple times July 26, leaving her hospitalized.
But Chiefs GM Brett Veach said Bieniemy remains engaged with the team, though his family takes top priority.
Veach told reporters the team set up Bieniemy with a live feed of practices so he can watch and analyze remotely as players go through drills, according to The Athletic.
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Veach said Bieniemy called him during one of the practices, asking to speak with head coach Andy Reid, who brought his old offensive coordinator back to the organization this offseason.
"That’s the thing. … It’s so refreshing to have back — that attention to detail," Veach said of Bieniemy, who wanted Reid to relay a message to rookie running back Emmett Johnson. "He demands each player knows his assignment. There’s never a safe space with him."
Veach added that Bieniemy was brought back to give the roster a "kick in the a--," and he means that in the best way possible.
The Chiefs went 6-11 last season, a far cry from the success they’re used to. This is a group that was on the precipice of a dynasty, and depending on who you talk to, they might have even been one.
Bieniemy knows this team well, winning two Super Bowls with the franchise. The Chiefs are hoping his direction can bring them back to that level of football.
"Him being out there and hearing that voice, whether it be ‘Finish’ or ‘Alignment’ or whatever … he demands that you are buttoned up on your details, and that is a mirror image of coach and how he wants things run," Veach said, via The Athletic.
There’s no telling when Bieniemy will be heard again in person, though, after his 57-year-old wife was shot by their 27-year-old son at home in Ashburn, Va. Mia was critically wounded but has since been transferred out of an ICU.
Elijah was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling, per a press release by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
A person believed to be Elijah reportedly called police two days before he allegedly shot his mother, saying he could not access his weapons from "his parents," according to the outlet. Elijah said his parents "are withholding his weapons and that he’s a certified UFC fighter, so now he feels like he cannot defend himself."
Elijah will not make a court appearance until he undergoes a mental health competency evaluation, court records showed. He "appears to suffer from significant mental health issues," and he "does not appear able to assist in his own defense at the present time."
Before returning to the Chiefs, Bieniemy spent time with the Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears and UCLA’s program.
The 56-year-old continues to attend to family matters, but he is helping the Chiefs as training camp really picks up this week.
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