Chiefs coach Eric Bieniemy returns to practice for first time since his wife’s shooting

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy returned to practice on Monday for the first time since his wife was shot at their Virginia home last month.

The couple’s 27-year-old son, Elijah Bieniemy, was arrested following the shooting, which took place on the evening of July 26.

Bieniemy was greeted by a handful of fans on Monday as he walked down the long hill to the training fields at Missouri Western State University, where the Chiefs are holding their pre-season training camp. He subsequently jumped right into his first practice since Mia Bieniemy was shot.

Elijah Bieniemy has been charged with malicious wounding, the use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. His court appearances have been delayed after he was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

Eric Bieniemy, who returned to the Chiefs earlier this year, had been staying in touch with coach Andy Reid and the rest of the staff, and had been watching streams of some practices. In one case, he called Chiefs manager Brett Veach — who was sitting next to Reid — and asked him to hand over the phone, then proceeded to tell the head coach a point of instruction for a running back.

Eric Bieniemy was part of coaching staffs that helped Kansas City reach three Super Bowls and win two of them.

But because Reid is the primary play-caller, Bieniemy left to serve as the offensive coordinator with the Washington Commanders, where he would be able to call his own plays and perhaps better position himself for a head coaching job in the NFL.

The Commanders struggled in his lone season there, though, and Bieniemy and the rest of the staff were let go. He spent a season with UCLA and last season coaching the running backs with the Chicago Bears before returning to Kansas City as the offensive coordinator.

He replaced Matt Nagy, who was hired as the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants.

Eric Bieniemy rejoins the team with the 2026 season just over a month away. The Chiefs are due to take on the Denver Broncos in their opening game on September 14.