Mia Bieniemy, wife of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, was shot at the couple’s home in Loudoun County, Virginia, on Sunday night and hospitalized with serious injuries, according to a report from ESPN’s Nate Taylor.
Loudoun County police confirmed they arrived at the scene at 7:32 p.m. ET. Authorities acknowledged that a person was being treated for “serious injuries” but did not disclose the victim’s identity. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, identified the victim as Mia Bieniemy, 57.
Eric Bieniemy was at the Chiefs’ training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, earlier in the day Sunday. The team confirmed his absence in a statement to USA TODAY Sports.
“The club is aware of the incident involving Eric Bieniemy’s family,” the Chiefs said. “Out of respect for their privacy, we won’t have a comment at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
No further details about the circumstances of the shooting have been released. The investigation remains active.
The news landed just days into Bieniemy’s return to the franchise where he built his NFL reputation. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid called him the day after the Chicago Bears were eliminated in last season’s NFC divisional playoffs and offered him his old job back, following the decision not to renew Matt Nagy’s contract. Bieniemy accepted, returning to the role he held from 2018 through 2022 — a stretch that included two Super Bowl titles.
“It was hard to pass up when the head man picks up the phone and says, ‘B, let’s get this thing going,'” Bieniemy told USA TODAY Sports in an interview conducted before the shooting was reported.
His return comes at a critical juncture for the organization. The Chiefs stumbled to 6-11 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Patrick Mahomes is recovering from knee surgery. The offensive line surrendered 70 sacks over the past two seasons — more than any back-to-back stretch of Mahomes’ career. The team hasn’t produced a 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt in 2017.
Bieniemy’s three-year detour away from Kansas City took him from the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator post in 2023 to UCLA’s staff in 2024 to the Bears’ running backs coach in 2025. He never landed the head coaching job he has interviewed for at least a dozen times. He told USA TODAY he doesn’t regret leaving.
“My leaving helped me to grow, having those experiences, doing the things my way,” Bieniemy said. “And because of those experiences, that shaped me to become a better person, better leader and better coach. Having this opportunity to come back, I feel more prepared.”
Reid, whose relationship with Bieniemy dates to 1999 when Bieniemy played his final NFL season with the Eagles in Reid’s first year as a head coach, praised the hire at camp.
“He’s one of the more phenomenal guys I’ve been around as a leader of men,” Reid said. “And he’s doing that. He’s cranking, worked his tail off. Appreciate that. Doesn’t let anything slide by.”
That intensity was on display during the first rookie camp practice Saturday, when Bieniemy erupted after a pick-six in a red zone drill — not because of the interception, but because no offensive player chased the defender to the end zone. “We’ve always got to learn to strain the finish,” he said afterward.
Now the finish that matters is in a hospital room in Virginia, not on a practice field in Missouri. Veterans were scheduled to report to camp Tuesday, July 28. The Chiefs have not indicated when Bieniemy might return to the team.
Sources:
- Eric Bieniemy away from Chiefs after ‘incident’ involving family — USA TODAY via Yahoo Sports
- Report: Wife of Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy was shot on Sunday night at their home in Virginia — Yahoo Sports
- Wife of Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy reportedly shot at couple’s home — Yahoo Sports
- Eric Bieniemy opens up about leaving and rejoining Chiefs | Exclusive — USA TODAY via Yahoo Sports