ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Mia Bieniemy, wife of Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, is in stable condition following a shooting in the couple’s home in Virginia on Sunday night, Kansas City coach Andy Reid confirmed.
“Our hearts go out to Eric Bieniemy and his family,” Reid said following the team’s Monday morning practice. “Thoughts and prayers are with them. I can’t get into details on it, but things happen sometimes, and Eric will work through it. He’s got a great support group here, as does his family, as needed, and then we’ll just let time take care of it from there.”
Bienniemy said pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier and offensive line coach Andy Heck, the team’s de fact run game coordinator, will be involved in running the offense during practices in Bieniemy’s absence.
“We’ll be able to keep it moving here, Reid said. “But the most important thing is that EB has an opportunity to spend some time there and take care of that business.”
Mia Bieniemy suffered multiple gunshot wounds an incident at the couple’s home in Ashburn, according to a report from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department. The couple’s son, Elijah Zion Bieniemy, 27, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm in a dwelling. He is being held without bond.
Reid’s relationship with Bieniemy tracks back to 1999 when Reid was hired as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Bieniemy was a running back for the team in his final NFL season. Bieniemy began his coaching career the following year, and was offensive coordinator for the Colorado Buffaloes when Reid recruited him as running backs coach in his first season in Kansas City in 2013.
The Bieniemy couple have been married 33 years. Mia is the caregiver for their elder son, Eric Bieniemy III, who has cerebral palsy. Reid said that their older son is also stable, and he was neither harmed or involved in Sunday night’s incident.
“She’s a saint,” Reid said of Mia Bieniemy, “We all know that. People who know her, one of God’s good blessings right there now, really special person. So, but things happen. You know, things happen and you, you just you got to work through it. So that’s that’s where we’re at right now.”
Monday’s practice was largely brisk and quiet, and it was hard to ignore the absence of Bieniemy’s trademark firey coaching commentary from the field.
“I tell you, I mean, listen, we all love EB, and I hate seeing these kind of things happen, but there’s always a blessing in there somewhere, and so I know things will work out,” Reid said.
