As the old adage goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Although the Kansas City Chiefs have shaken the snow globe several times already this offseason, one move saw them reunite with an old friend.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. In bringing back Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, last season’s AFC champions took a step they believe will help them get back to the proverbial mountaintop.
If you ask right guard Trey Smith, he has nothing but positive reviews of his old new coach.
Trey Smith Praises Eric Bieniemy’s Intensity: ‘He Wants to See You Succeed’
Prior to Super Bowl LX, Smith appeared on radio row to do media rounds. One of his interviews was with a local entity: Sports Radio 810 WHB from Kansas City.
Speaking with host Jason Anderson, Smith praised Bieniemy’s approach as something that will benefit the Chiefs next season.
“I love it,” Smith said. “His intensity is one of the most unique traits at the end of the day. You just have to understand he’s doing that because he wants to see you succeed. He wants to see you be the best you can be.”
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Smith admitted that some aren’t inherently fans of that approach. It can undoubtedly come across as abrasive, but it’s for the betterment of the team.
“For sure,” Smith said. “I mean, people don’t like getting yelled at at times but at the end of the day, with coach EB, you’ve got to understand he’s doing that with a purpose. He wants to see you be great. He knows the potential, and he’s trying to get the best out of you. If he feels that you’re falling short of that potential and that area that you can improve on, he’s going to let you know. For me, I’d rather be held accountable in those situations than to just coast by and my coach not tell me a freaking thing.”
This past campaign, Kansas City seemed lethargic at times. Meanwhile, Bieniemy made a massive impact as running backs coach for the Chicago Bears, helping rejuvenate their offense. The Chiefs’ hope is something similar can occur in 2026-27.
Smith Recalls Training Camp Example of Why Bieniemy Stands Out
Attributing impact to Bieniemy for what was accomplished in the past with Kansas City is easier said than done. Extremes exist on both sides. On one end, when the offense was one of the very best in the sport from 2018-2022, some chalked that up to a hard-nosed coaching style. On the other end, many believe the team lives and dies with what head coach Andy Reid decides for it.
At the end of the day, there could be some truth to both. With Matt Nagy at the helm, not many fresh ideas seemed to be introduced into planning. On game days, it remained Reid who had his self-coined 51% of the vote on calls. The offensive coordinator role for the Chiefs isn’t quite the same it is for some other teams.
Nonetheless, the job remains important. Smith thinks having Bieniemy back will challenge everyone in the best of ways.
“When I think of EB, I think about the first day of training camp in St. Joe (St. Joseph, MO) in that, like, 90-degree weather,” Smith said. “Deep humidity in the morning, and just doing drills, man, and he’s barking and just getting after guys. For me, it’s more so like EB is almost like a mindset and mentality: finish, introduce yourself. At the end of the day, we’re presenting that we’re going to be aggressors, we’re going to be physical. We’re out here to dominate, we’re not here to mess around. This is business — we’re getting after you every single play until the whistle blows.”
The 2025-26 season was a lost one for the Chiefs. They went just 6-11, finishing 15th in both points and yards per drive. With limited possessions, however, they ranked 21st in overall scoring. To add injury to insult, quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in Week 15. This offseason, the organization must take many steps to get back to its winning ways.
On the player side, there’s a belief that reuniting with Bieniemy is a great move.
Chiefs Star Reveals ‘Unique’ Trait That Sets Eric Bieniemy Apart