Travis Kelce Welcomes Eric Bieniemy Back to Chiefs Camp in Emotional Message After Coach Left Team When Wife Was Shot

Jaclyn Hendricks, Natasha DyeWed, August 12, 2026 at 6:16 PM UTC

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Eric Bieniemy; Travis KelceCredit: Ric Tapia/Getty; Perry Knotts/Getty -

Eric Bieniemy returned to Chiefs training camp after a two-week absence following a shooting involving his wife, Mia

Travis Kelce praised Bieniemy’s intensity and accountability, saying his coaching style improves players and the team overall

Bieniemy previously coached the Chiefs to two Super Bowl wins and rejoined the team after a year with the Commanders

Travis Kelce is happy to have Eric Bieniemy back in the fold.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Aug. 12, the star Chiefs tight end, 36, welcomed the team’s offensive coordinator back to training camp following a two-week absence, when he tended to his wife, Mia, after she was shot.

“One, you’ve got intensity. Intensity is the first thing and that intensity is infectious,” Kelce said when asked about Bieniemy, 56. “And I love that s---. It’s one of my favorite things about him. I don’t think there’s enough of that in the world, let alone in this building.”

Eric Bieniemy (l.) with Travis Kelce (r.) in October 2019.Credit: David Eulitt/Getty

Kelce said Bieniemy is “one of those guys where his accountability is gonna piss you off” before explaining, “But if you treat it the right way and you act the right way, respond the right way with it, you’re gonna become better, and it’s gonna make the team a better team.”

“It’s one of those things I think we really missed here in Kansas City,” Kelce added.

Eric Bieniemy on June 9, 2026 in Kansas CityCredit: Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty

The comments made by the Chiefs superstar came days after Bieniemy made his first appearance at training camp since late July, when Mia was shot at the couple’s Virginia residence. Sources relayed to ESPN at the time that she was hospitalized and in stable condition.

Elijah, the couple’s 27-year-old son, was arrested in connection with the shooting and charged with three felonies, including use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, malicious wounding and discharging a firearm within a building, according to Loudoun County, Va., court documents obtained by PEOPLE. A preliminary hearing for Elijah is set for Monday, Aug. 31.

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Patrick Mahomes (l.) with Eric Bieniemy (r.) in February 2023.Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty

“The club is aware of the incident involving Eric Bieniemy’s family,” the Chiefs previously told PEOPLE in a statement. “... Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

The alleged incident transpired just as the Chiefs kicked off training camp in Missouri.

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Bieniemy is on his second run as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. He held the role from 2018-2022 and won two Super Bowls with the club.

Before returning to Kansas City, Bieniemy worked as the Washington Commanders’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2023 and held the same positions with the UCLA Bruins the following year. He served as the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach in 2025.

Kelce spoke at length about Bieniemy during a March appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, and how the coach’s return to Kansas City influenced his decision to suit up again.

“I still love going to work, putting on the pads, grinding it out and just playing the game, you know, and I think my best opportunity was playing for the Chiefs yet again and running this thing back with Pat Mahomes and Coach Reid,” Kelce said. “And got my guy Eric Bieniemy, Coach Bieniemy back, and there’s a lot of pieces in Kansas City that I just absolutely love and I can’t wait to get back in the building with.”

on People

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Source: “AOL Sports”