Three former Chiefs players rave about Eric Bieniemy coming back to the team
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Former Chiefs players praise Bieniemy amid reports he'll rejoin as OC.
- Former teammates cite his work ethic, accountability and system knowledge.
- Players credit Bieniemy with player development and cultural leadership.
It’s not official, of course, but all signs point to Eric Bieniemy returning to the Chiefs as offensive coordinator.
When news of Bieniemy and the Chiefs reuniting first surfaced, it generated a lot of talk on social media. But not all of it was positive. Well, among Chiefs fans that is.
Former Chiefs players were thrilled that Bieniemy will be back in Kansas City. He spent 10 seasons with the Chiefs, the final five as offensive coordinator. Bieniemy left following the 2022 season and has since worked for the Commanders, UCLA and the Chicago Bears.
Former Chiefs offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz called it the “best outcome” for Kansas City.
“Getting EB back is the best outcome given that the HC is the OC (one of the best of all time) and has offensive control,” Schwartz wrote. “EB brings the same traits that made him successful before: works his (behind) off and holds people accountable. This time he comes back with intimate knowledge of Ben Johnson’s system, which is as stylistically opposite of KC as just about anyone right now. You’re not going to get much more from a hire than that combination.
“He’s exactly what the team needs: a guy to coach everyone hard, a guy with new ideas and concepts from one of the best, and possibly the best RB coach in the league to groom (Brashard) Smith (and whoever else the team brings in). I’ve been on the record about wanting (former Miami coach) Mike McDaniel but that’s not realistic when your HC is Andy Reid. And for good reason. So get the guy back who knows the previous system and can bring fresh and new ideas (see what I did there) from a top Offense.”
Schwartz wasn’t the only former Chiefs player to rave about Bieniemy’s return.
Jeff Allen, an offensive lineman who spent six seasons with the Chiefs during his NFL career from 2012-2019, also spoke highly of Bieniemy.
“The organization, which includes players and coaches, is fully aware of the value EB brings to the team!” Allen wrote on X. “The stats speak for themselves. Just look at what he accomplished as the offensive coordinator in KC.”
Former Chiefs tight end Jason Dunn responded to a video that showed Bieniemy showing tough love to running back Adrian Peterson when they were both with the Vikings.
Peterson rushed for nearly 15,000 yards in the NFL and was a four-time All-Pro after a standout career at Oklahoma.
“This type of Coaching is what’s necessary for young men coming into this League,” Dunn wrote. “A Truthful and Stern Coach that will never let them be mediocre or allow them to shirk responsibility. Welcome Home EB my Brotha!!! #ChiefsKingdom”
Tyreek Hill video resurfaces
A clip of former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill talking about Bieniemy was widely shared Monday. It’s a couple years old, but Hill lavished praise on Bieniemy for helping him.
It’s not current, but it’s worth hearing what he said.
“When I first got in the league, I was a running back, and E.B. coached running backs,” Hill said. “So he made me understand who I was as a player. And to him, it’s bigger than football, like playing football is part of the blessing, but outside of football, who you are as a person, how you carry yourself every day as a person, that’s the message he was delivering to me.
“That made me realize who I was, that made me understand my true power and truth be told, not a lot of people will understand E.B. as a coach, because he’s a yeller. He like to yell. He likes to do this and that, right? But it didn’t phase me, bro, I must be able to sit there listen to you and talk to you and do whatever you got to do, as long as you got the message to me.”
This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Three former Chiefs players rave about Eric Bieniemy coming back to the team."
