KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs have signed Eric Bieniemy to a multi-year contract to return as their offensive coordinator, a role he held from 2018 to 2022, according to a league source provided to ESPN on Wednesday.
This agreement follows the Chiefs’ request to interview Bieniemy, who served as the running backs coach for the Bears this season, just two days earlier.
Matt Nagy, who has been the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator for the last three years, is not anticipated to remain with the team in 2026. His contract expired after the Chiefs concluded their season with a disappointing 6-11 record and missed the playoffs earlier this month. Nagy has been interviewing for coaching positions across the league for the past two weeks.
Bieniemy now re-establishes his connection with head coach Andy Reid and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Earlier on Wednesday, Mahomes celebrated the reunion by sharing an old photo of himself with Bieniemy on Instagram, accompanied by three flexed biceps emojis.
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Star tight end Travis Kelce also praised the anticipated return.
«I think it’s fantastic,» he stated on Wednesday during the «New Heights» podcast alongside his brother Jason Kelce. «I cannot wait to see him back on the team. He’s one of my all-time favorite coaches. I’ve experienced so many incredible growth moments as a player under his guidance.
«I just have a lot of love for him, and it’s going to be so great to have him back and see him don the Chiefs’ logo again.»
Bieniemy was the only candidate the Chiefs approached for an interview on Monday, the initial day that Reid could meet candidates in person.
During his prior five seasons as the Chiefs’ coordinator, Bieniemy ensured the team’s offense finished no worse than sixth in points per game. In 2022, he significantly contributed to Mahomes securing the league MVP honor and the Chiefs clinching the Super Bowl title.
One of Bieniemy’s primary missions this time around will be enhancing the progress of the Chiefs’ skill-position players, including receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. This past season, the Chiefs often struggled to respond effectively when Mahomes confronted man-to-man coverage. The star QB attempted to compensate when his receivers were tightly guarded by extending plays through scrambling, yet he completed only 41% of his passes while under pressure, marking the lowest percentage in his career.
Additionally, the output from running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt ranked among the worst in the NFL. Pacheco didn’t produce a single rush of 20-plus yards; Hunt managed just one.
During this season, Bieniemy had a substantial impact on the running game in Chicago, which was the second-best in the league, trailing only D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.
