Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Monday after practice, offering his support for offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whose wife Mia was allegedly shot by their son on Sunday night at their Virginia home.
“Our hearts go out to Eric Bieniemy,” Reid said, via Nate Taylor of ESPN.com. “Mia is stable, which is a plus. We all love EB, and you hate seeing those things happen. … We’ll just see how things go. [This is] real life, you take care of that. She’s a saint, one of God’s good blessings. But things happen.”
According to reports, Mia Bieniemy suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her chest and arm and is currently being treated for serious injuries. The couple’s son, Elijah, 27, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Eric Bieniemy has understandably left the Chiefs’ training camp to be with his family during this difficult time. Reid emphasized the importance of family in moments like these.
“These kinds of things happen, but there’s always a blessing in there somewhere,” Reid continued. “I know things will work out. The most important thing is that EB has an opportunity to spend some time [with his family] and take care of that business. Everybody loves EB. He’s a great person.”
The Chiefs organization has rallied around Bieniemy, with Reid acknowledging the emotional toll such events take. “Things happen. You have to work through it and time will have to be involved in this to help heal a little bit,” he said. “It’ll all work out in the long run.”
This incident comes at a time when the NFL community is already grappling with off-field issues. In a separate case, the Chiefs issued a terse statement after Rashee Rice got jail time for a probation violation, highlighting the challenges teams face balancing football with real-life crises.
Bieniemy, a longtime assistant under Reid, has been a key figure in the Chiefs’ offensive success, including their Super Bowl victories. His absence from camp leaves a void, but Reid made it clear that football is secondary right now.
“We all love EB,” Reid reiterated. “He’s a great person. Our thoughts are with him and his family.”
As the legal process unfolds, the Chiefs will continue to support Bieniemy, who remains a respected figure in the locker room. The team has not announced a timeline for his return, but Reid’s message was clear: family comes first.
