Pinpointing a sole reason why the Kansas City Chiefs fell flat on their faces this season is an impossible task. A combination of injuries, bad luck, uncharacteristic mistakes and flat-out underwhelming play fueled their 6-11 output.
On offense, a lackluster rushing attack persisted all year long. That thorn in the team’s side needs to be addressed this offseason; Kansas City could benefit from an injection of talent.
Better coaching may not hurt, either. Running backs coach Todd Pinkston is out, and someone with plenty of halfback experience could help in a more senior role: Eric Bieniemy.
Eric Bieniemy Opens Up on Chiefs’ Run Game
In his first media availability since getting hired back as offensive coordinator, Bieniemy was asked a multitude of questions. Regarding changes to the Chiefs’ offense, he believes his recent stints with other clubs will come in handy.
“I think it’s always good, because I’ve had an opportunity to learn a few things and, obviously, open up my mind just to view things from a different point of view,” Bieniemy said. “It’s great, but on top of that, we’ve got to make sure we’re getting down to what is best for us when it’s all said and done with.”
Bieniemy believes it takes more than just a play sheet to make a difference.
“More than anything, you develop patience,” Bieniemy said. “You develop a broad view on things. It forces you to go back and maybe look at things a little bit different in how you approach everything. Just because it worked here, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work somewhere else. You just want to make sure you’re fitting in within the environment you’re working in. Anybody can call plays, but you’ve got to make sure you’re doing what is best for those players in that particular time.”
As the Chiefs’ offseason rolls on, personnel on the roster will change. Regardless of who enters the fold, Bieniemy trusts in his fellow coaches. Those in charge will put players in the right positions to succeed.
“First and foremost, we obviously have a tremendous staff,” Bieniemy said. “With coach (Andy) Reid, we’re going to figure out things we need to do moving forward as far as making sure we’re getting the right people in the building. When it’s all said and done with, we’re going to make sure we can do the things that we do best. We have one of the better O-linemen coaches here in the industry in coach (Andy) Heck. He does an outstanding job with those guys up front. Just having an impact and making sure we’re doing the things we can do that’s going to help us going forward.”
Expanding on Kansas City’s Lack of Effective Rushing Attack in 2025-26
Bieniemy’s analysis can be viewed in a couple of different ways. On one hand, being hyper-aware of needs on a case-by-case basis could help. On the flip side, he didn’t exactly commit to a serious change in philosophy. Improved talent at the running back spot can make the biggest difference, but schematic tweaks could also assist in that transition.
Some statistics regarding the Chiefs’ run game are deceiving. For example, they ranked seventh in EPA per rush, according to SumerSports. Out of 64 running backs with 50+ carries, Kareem Hunt (3.68%) and Isiah Pacheco (5.93%) posted some of the lowest splits of runs stopped for a loss. A lack of chunk rushes is what doomed Kansas City. In that same aforementioned group, Hunt and Pacheco ranked 61st and 59th, respectively, in explosive run clip.
Anyone not named quarterback Patrick Mahomes failed to deliver positive results on the ground. Hunt, despite being a great late-down and short-yardage back, can’t be a primary option in 2026 if retained. Pacheco, now set to hit free agency, falls under the same umbrella. The club would be wise to add multiple difference-making pieces, not just one.
This season, the Chiefs ranked 25th in rushing yards and 20th in yards per attempt. Youth and athleticism is desperately needed. According to StatRankings, they sat second-to-last in avoided tackle rate at 13.72%. They were also 27th in yards per try on outside zone and 28th in yards after contact per attempt.
Something must be altered, either at the player or coach level. Time will tell whether the former takes place, but the latter has a plan in mind for when it does.
Eric Bieniemy Reveals Thoughts on Fixing Chiefs’ Run Game