Eric Bieniemy’s “intensity” could help Chiefs get back on track

The Chiefs return to action on Saturday, with their first preseason game of 2026. They have a long way to go to get back to where they were, not all that long ago.

One key difference between last year and this year is the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

After being away from camp for two weeks following the shooting of his wife, Mia, Bieniemy is back — and tight end Travis Kelce thinks the Chiefs will be better for it.

“Intensity is the first thing,” Kelce told reporters this week. “And that intensity is infectious. Makes you want to scream ‘motherfuck’ at everybody doing the wrong thing. And I love that shit. That’s one of my favorite things about him. I don’t think there’s enough of that in the world, let alone in this building, and I think E.B.’s one of those guys where his accountability is gonna piss you off. But if you treat it the right way and you act the right way, respond the right way with it, you’re gonna become better of it, and it’s gonna make the team a better team because of it. And it’s one of those things that I think we really missed here in Kansas City.”

Bieniemy’s return could be the kick in the ass the Chiefs need, in order to get them back to the top of the division, the top of the conference, and perhaps the top of the league.

And it’s a great opportunity for the Chiefs. They’ve quickly become a borderline afterthought. They could be planning to remind everyone quickly why and how they won three Super Bowls in five seasons — and why, before last year, their worst finish with Patrick Mahomes as the starting quarterback was losing the AFC Championship in overtime.