Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has returned to the practice field, and he brought a much-needed update on his wife Mia, who was shot at their Virginia home earlier this month. Speaking to reporters for the first time since the incident, Bieniemy delivered a message of hope and resilience.
“She is on a road to recovery,” Bieniemy said, via Chiefs.com. “She is doing great. It’s one of the main reasons why I’m back here because of her recovery. She is truly a soldier. She’s a saint. It’s been incredible to watch.”
Mia suffered multiple serious injuries in the shooting, which allegedly involved their son Elijah, who has since been arrested. The incident shook the family, but Bieniemy said his wife's strength has been nothing short of inspiring.
“I know I was driving her and a bunch of family members crazy in the house,” he added with a chuckle. “She was like, ‘you have my blessing to leave.’ So it was time to come back.”
Bieniemy had been tapping into practice remotely for a couple of weeks, but he says it feels good to be back in person. The players have welcomed him with open arms, and none more than star tight end Travis Kelce.
“Intensity is the first thing,” Kelce said over the weekend. “And that intensity is infectious. Makes you want to scream ‘motherf—k’ at everybody doing the wrong thing. And I love that s—t. That’s one of my favorite things about him. I don’t think there’s enough of that in the world, let alone in this building.”
Kelce explained that Bieniemy’s demanding style is exactly what the Chiefs need as they chase another Super Bowl. “His accountability is gonna piss you off,” Kelce admitted. “But if you treat it the right way and you act the right way, respond the right way with it, you’re gonna become better of it, and it’s gonna make the team a better team because of it. And it’s one of those things that I think we really missed here in Kansas City.”
The Chiefs are counting on Bieniemy’s return to provide a spark, especially after a challenging start to the season. His presence on the sideline has been sorely missed, and his players are thrilled to have their fiery leader back.
Bieniemy’s focus now is on football, but he’s also keeping his family close. He thanked reporters for respecting his privacy during this difficult time, and his update on Mia’s condition was a positive sign for everyone in the Chiefs organization.
For more on this story and other NFL updates, check out Bieniemy's return to the Chiefs and the arrest of his son.
