Travis Kelce believes Eric Bieniemy’s return could give the Kansas City Chiefs the edge they lost after his 2022 departure.
Even after Bieniemy left, the Chiefs still managed another Super Bowl win, but the offense did not look quite as sharp.
Coming off a 6-11 season, Kelce sounds confident that Bieniemy can help restore some of the urgency and discipline that used to set the team apart.
Travis Kelce sees Eric Bieniemy restoring Chiefs’ edge
Speaking on New Heights, Kelce said Bieniemy’s presence immediately changes the atmosphere, and that players feel the difference straight away.
“There’s just times a guy comes around, and you just know you’re done (messing) around,” Kelce said. “I think coach (Andy) Reid is one of those guys, but even to another degree, the accountability that Eric Bieniemy holds is second to none, man. Just his coaching style, how he preaches how to practice for it to translate into the games.
“It’s something I think we’ve missed, and you know, it’s not saying that anybody else was not good. We still went out, we won another Super Bowl, and all that (after Bieniemy left following the 2022 season). We definitely still had the pieces, but at the same time, Bieniemy has this ability to kind of tweak the culture in the right direction. I think this is going to really help us out this year.”
Bieniemy was Kansas City’s offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, when the Chiefs averaged 30.1 points and 406.2 yards per game. After leaving, he coached Washington’s offense in 2023, UCLA’s offense in 2024, and Chicago’s running backs in 2025 before returning.
His strengths are intensity, detail, run-game structure, and demanding practice habits. The weakness has always been perception, because Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes made it difficult for outsiders to isolate his play-calling value.
Chiefs’ offense needs Bieniemy to fix more than attitude
The 2025 numbers show why this return matters.
Kansas City ranked 21st in scoring at 21.3 points per game, averaged 320.6 yards, allowed 47 sacks, and finished with a negative turnover margin. That is not good enough for a Mahomes-led team.
Bieniemy’s first job is rebuilding rhythm around Mahomes. Kelce still gives him a trusted middle-field target, while Rashee Rice can be the physical chain-mover, and Xavier Worthy can stretch defenses vertically.
The offensive line also needs sharper protection rules and more consistent run-game answers. Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith give Bieniemy a strong interior base, but the tackles and running backs must reduce negative plays.
Bieniemy alone will not fix everything. But if he restores urgency, cleaner practices, and better situational execution, the Chiefs’ offense can look dangerous again.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
