Chiefs handed surprising grade for Eric Bieniemy hire

When it became known that Matt Nagy wouldn't be returning to the Kansas City Chiefs as offensive coordinator, attention turned to who could replace him.

Several candidates were mentioned, but for Andy Reid, it was rather simple, and he brought back a key piece of the Chiefs' success in previous years with Eric Bieniemy coming back.

Linking up with Patrick Mahomes and Co. again, "EB" had a hand in the Chiefs' Super Bowl wins and Mahomes' best seasons.

So, bringing the band back together seems like a good fit, right?

In grading the hire, CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani has given it a B- grade.

"Like an old sitcom trying to relive its glory days, the Chiefs are clearly hoping Bieniemy can help them get back to what they once were," Dajani wrote.

"That said, a coach is only as good as his players. Travis Kelce will be 37 next season, and Mahomes will be 31. Kansas City also doesn't have anyone who can replicate what Tyreek Hill gave them during their first Super Bowl run. In short, Bieniemy will have to adjust to what the Chiefs are now, not what they used to be."

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That will be the hope, especially with Bieniemy returning.

But as Dajani pointed out, he won't have the weapons they had when Bieniemy was last in KC, but there are still some good pieces in Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, and who knows about Travis Kelce.

Still, there is more than enough reason to think that the Chiefs, offensively, will at least be a little better than they were last season under Nagy.

The run game needs an overhaul, and Mahomes needs a genuine downfield threat, someone other than Worthy (Tyreek Hill?), then Bieniemy can cook.

Still, a B- grade is nothing to turn your nose up at, and the Chiefs hope Bieniemy is once again the catalyst for another successful season for the AFC West franchise.

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