Kansas City Chiefs players have never been shy about how they feel about Eric Bieniemy — and now their quotes are resurfacing in a big way.
With Bieniemy returning to Kansas City as the team’s next offensive coordinator, praise from both Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes is getting renewed attention. Kelce once credited Bieniemy as the voice who kept the offense locked in, while Mahomes publicly defended his former coach and credited him as a major influence on the player he became.
Travis Kelce Said Eric Bieniemy ‘Rallies This Group’ and Prepares Them Weekly
Kelce worked closely with Bieniemy for years, and his February 2022 comments about the coach have quickly become one of the most talked-about quotes linked to Bieniemy’s return.
“Week in, week out, he has our team prepared and ready to go,” Kelce said. “Everyone says it’s an Andy Reid offense—he has 51%, I’m not going to say it’s not. But it is a collective group putting this offense together.”
Kelce then pushed back on the idea that Bieniemy did not have a major role in the offense, noting how visible Bieniemy was behind the scenes.
“I ask everybody, ‘Come on in, see who’s standing up in front of our offense getting us ready for situational football, who’s in front of us week in week out at halftime trying to make adjustments. Who is the guy that’s rallying this group and has the emotion as a player and as a coach to keep us firing as an offensive unit?’ And that’s Eric Bieniemy.”
Kelce also made it clear the coach had a direct influence on him personally.
“I’ve been a big fan of him my entire career, he’s done unbelievable things for my skillset personally and my mentality in terms of helping me grow as a player,” Kelce said, before adding that Bieniemy was “more than deserving” of an NFL head coaching opportunity.
Patrick Mahomes Publicly Defended Bieniemy: ‘No Questions‘ About Him
Mahomes also has a long track record of backing Bieniemy, including a public defense that remains one of the clearest statements Mahomes has made about a coach.
When Bieniemy’s style came under scrutiny in 2023, Mahomes responded publicly with a message supporting his former offensive coordinator.
“There should be no questions on how great of a man/coach Coach Bienemy is,” Mahomes wrote on X in February 2023. “His leadership has a direct impact on the player/person i am today!”
Mahomes also pointed to the years Bieniemy spent learning under Andy Reid.
“10+ years learning under one of the greatest coaches of all time… and I cannot wait for him to continue to prove doubters wrong!” Mahomes added.
Those words are now being re-shared as Bieniemy steps back into the role of offensive coordinator — the same position he held in Kansas City from 2018 through 2022.
Chiefs Stars Credited Bieniemy for Accountability and Football Focus
In Kansas City, Bieniemy’s reputation has often centered around intensity and accountability — and that’s reflected in how Kelce and Mahomes spoke about him.
Kelce praised Bieniemy for leading situational football preparation and adjustments, while Mahomes credited him as part of what shaped him early in his career. Mahomes also recently outlined what he wants from an offensive coordinator.
“I just want someone that loves football, that cares about football, wants to give everything they can to win, to hold people accountable, and then to bring new ideas every single day,” Mahomes told reporters last Thursday.
Now, with Bieniemy back in Kansas City, Chiefs fans are looking at those past comments differently — especially since they came from two of the most important leaders in the organization.
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes’ Eric Bieniemy Praise Resurfacing Amid Chiefs Reunion