Eric Bieniemy updates wife’s status after shooting and explains quick return to Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy described his wife, Mia, as a “soldier” and said her improving condition is the reason he made a quick return to Chiefs practices last week.

Bieniemy first left the team on July 27, the day after Mia was shot at the couple’s home in Ashburn, Va. Subsequently, Elijah Bieniemy — Eric and Mia’s son — was arrested and charged after a shooting in which “one adult female (suffered) from multiple gunshot wounds,” the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

Since then, the Chiefs reported that Mia was making progress, with Bieniemy returning to the team’s training camp practices on Aug. 10.

“She’s truly a soldier. She’s a saint. It’s been incredible to watch,” Bieniemy said Tuesday in his first meeting with reporters since his return. “With that said, I know I was driving her and a bunch of my family members crazy in the house, so she was like, ‘You have my blessing to leave.’ It was time to get back.”

Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy speaks to the media for the first time at training camp after his wife was shot in their home.

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Bieniemy remained connected to the team even while tending to Mia in Virginia. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach previously shared that the team had live-streamed practices so Bieniemy could watch them from afar. That included one day when Veach received a call from Bieniemy on the practice field; Bieniemy asked to talk to coach Andy Reid so he could relay a coaching point to rookie running back Emmett Johnson.

“I wasn’t always watching, but when things settled back home, I had an opportunity to tap in,” Bieniemy said. “I’ll tell you, technology is pretty impressive.”

It wasn’t always good for Bieniemy’s heart rate, though. Bieniemy said he was often angered by seeing things on the live screen that weren’t up to his standard.

“Yelling at the screen. Yelling at players, yelling at coaches. ‘What the hell are we doing?’ I’m yelling at myself. ‘Why would you put that play in?’” Bieniemy said with a laugh. “But at the end of the day, it was just (to make) sure I can keep up with what was going on.”

Things got so intense that Bieniemy said he “had a bunch of family members that were there that never really heard some of the language that was used.”

“But I had a great time,” Bieniemy said, “and it felt good just to see the guys work.”

There’s been plenty of work to do since returning. Bieniemy acknowledged Tuesday that the offense overall was “not where we need to be” after Saturday’s 20-12 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

“There was some good. But these practices we’ve had the past few days, the guys have stepped up,” Bieniemy said. “They’ve accepted the challenge, and they understand, ‘OK, what needs to be accomplished?’ We’re just going to continue to grow from here on out.”

Elijah Bieniemy, 27, was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside of a dwelling after the shooting. While thanking the Chiefs organization for their love and support on Tuesday, Eric described his family’s situation as “unfortunate circumstances that took place.”

The positive from it all? Eric said Mia remained in good health with a positive outlook ahead.

“She is doing great,” Eric said. “It’s one of the main reasons why I’m back here, because of her recovery.”