Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy Returns to Practice for First Time Since Wife’s Shooting
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy returned to the team’s training camp Monday, August 10, for his first practice since leaving in late July to be with his wife, Mia, after she was shot at their Virginia home.
What Happened and Where Things Stand
Mia Bieniemy, 57, was shot on the evening of July 26 at the family’s home in Ashburn, Virginia, according to the Associated Press, via NBC News. The couple’s 27-year-old son, Elijah Bieniemy, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. His court appearances have been delayed pending a mental health evaluation, according to NFL.com.
Mia Bieniemy was initially hospitalized with serious injuries, according to ESPN, and was later moved out of intensive care, according to updates Chiefs head coach Andy Reid provided to reporters. “She’s doing great. She’s doing better and great from where she was, out of the ICU unit and making progress,” Reid said in early August, according to NBC News. Given the sensitive and ongoing nature of the underlying incident, this report focuses on Eric Bieniemy’s return to the team rather than further details of the shooting itself.
How Bieniemy Stayed Involved While Away
Even while away from the team’s training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, Bieniemy remained engaged with the Chiefs’ offense from Virginia. According to FootballScoop and Yahoo Sports, Bieniemy continued helping run practices remotely during his absence, watching livestreams and staying in contact with coaching staff throughout.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes described the arrangement to reporters before Bieniemy’s return. “He’s been Zooming in; he’s been live-streaming. I mean, he’s still EB, it’s not like he’s not EB,” Mahomes said, according to CBS Sports. “He’s calling you at the end of the night and talking to you throughout the day and all the plays and stuff like that.” Mahomes added that the team wanted Bieniemy to take as much time as he needed with his family, even while looking forward to his return.
In at least one instance, according to NFL.com, Bieniemy called Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, who was sitting beside Reid, and asked to speak directly with the head coach to relay a specific coaching point for a running back — illustrating how involved he remained in day-to-day offensive preparation despite being roughly a thousand miles from camp.
Monday’s Return
Bieniemy was greeted warmly as he arrived at Missouri Western State University, where the Chiefs hold training camp, according to NFL.com. He was seen receiving a hug from longtime Chiefs radio voice Mitch Holthus before jumping directly into practice, according to a video shared by reporter Matt Derrick and cited by CBS Sports and AtoZ Sports.
His return comes just five days before Kansas City’s first preseason game, according to AtoZ Sports, which should help ramp up practice intensity over the coming days as the team’s on-field preparation resumes with its full offensive coordinator back in place.
Bieniemy’s Role and Background
Bieniemy returned to the Chiefs this offseason as offensive coordinator after previous coordinator Matt Nagy departed to join the New York Giants, according to CBS Sports. It’s his second stint in that role with Kansas City: he previously served as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, a period during which the team reached three Super Bowls and won two of them, according to NFL.com. Before that, he spent five seasons as the team’s running backs coach.
Between his two stints with the Chiefs, Bieniemy served as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the Washington Commanders in 2023, followed by a season as offensive coordinator at UCLA in 2024, and running backs coach for the Chicago Bears in 2025, where he oversaw the league’s third-ranked rushing attack.
The Chiefs’ Handling of the Situation
Throughout Bieniemy’s absence, the Chiefs organization maintained that there was no set timeline for his return, according to AtoZ Sports, deferring instead to updates on Mia Bieniemy’s recovery. The team’s approach reflected a broader posture of respecting the family’s privacy while still keeping the public informed of her improving condition through Reid’s periodic updates at press conferences.
FAQ
When did Eric Bieniemy return to the Chiefs? Monday, August 10, 2026, for his first training camp practice since the shooting.
How is Mia Bieniemy doing? As of early August, she had been moved out of intensive care and was reported to be recovering well, according to updates from head coach Andy Reid.
What happened to the couple’s son? Elijah Bieniemy, 27, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. His court appearances have been delayed pending a mental health evaluation.
Did Bieniemy stay involved with the team while he was away? Yes. He continued participating remotely, watching practice livestreams and staying in regular contact with head coach Andy Reid and the coaching staff.
How long has Eric Bieniemy worked for the Chiefs? This is his second stint with the team as offensive coordinator, having previously held the role from 2018 to 2022, in addition to five earlier seasons as running backs coach.
Conclusion
Eric Bieniemy’s return to Chiefs training camp marks a significant step forward following a genuinely difficult few weeks for his family, arriving just days before Kansas City’s first preseason game. With his wife continuing to recover and the legal process against their son still unfolding, the Chiefs organization has consistently emphasized giving Bieniemy the space and time his family needed — an approach that, based on Monday’s warm welcome from players and staff, appears to reflect broad support from those around him as he returns to his coaching duties.
Sources: The Washington Post, KCTV5, AtoZ Sports, CBS Sports, NFL.com, NBC News/Associated Press, NBC Sports, FootballScoop, Yahoo Sports (reporting dated July 27-August 10, 2026).