Chiefs bringing Eric Bieniemy back after three seasons away

The Chiefs are turning to a familiar face for their offensive coordinator. 

Eric Bieniemy is poised to return to the offensive coordinator role he previously held in Kansas City, just hours after it was reported the franchise requested permission to interview him.

He’ll replace Matt Nagy, who was not expected to return to the Chiefs after his contract expired.

Bieniemy spent this season as running backs coach for the Bears as part of Ben Johnson’s staff. 

The 56-year-old was the Chiefs’ OC from 2018-2022, a span in which Kansas City boasted one of the most potent offenses in the league and won two Super Bowls. 

Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy of the Chicago Bears looks on prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on August 17, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images

After a successful run with Kansas City, Bieniemy took a role with the Commanders in 2023, which allowed him to call plays. After a 4-13 season, he returned to coach at UCLA, where he was the running backs coach from 2003-05, and spent the 2024 football season as an associate head coach. 

He joined Johnson’s staff as running backs coach ahead of the 2025 season. 

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport had reported that Nagy is a finalist for the Titans’ head coaching job. 

Travis Kelce greets former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 22, 2025. Getty Images

Nagy concluded his interview with the Titans on Monday, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport. 

The Chiefs are coming off a season in which they failed to qualify for the postseason and saw star quarterback Patrick Mahomes go down with a season-ending injury during a Dec. 14 game against the Chargers. 

Their question also remains whether star tight end Travis Kelce will be back for another season or will hang up his cleats. 

Kelce has said that he would use the offseason to decide whether he would retire following his 13th season in the NFL.