Incident in Ashburn, Virginia
Mia Bieniemy, wife of Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Eric Bieniemy, was hospitalized after a shooting incident in Ashburn, Virginia. Authorities in Virginia confirmed on Monday that Elijah Zion Bieniemy, the couple’s son, has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. The incident occurred late Sunday at a home the couple maintained in Ashburn, a residence from Bieniemy’s tenure with the Washington Commanders.
Deputies from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene where they found Mia Bieniemy, 57, with multiple gunshot wounds. She was subsequently transported to a hospital, where her condition was reported as stable on Monday. Elijah Zion Bieniemy, 27, was arrested early Monday morning. He faces charges including malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. He is currently being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Bieniemy’s Absence from Chiefs Training Camp
Eric Bieniemy was with the Chiefs at their training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, earlier on Sunday. However, he was not present for Monday’s workout, which included rookies, quarterbacks, and a select group of veterans, and was closed to the public. Chiefs coach Andy Reid addressed the situation, expressing support for the Bieniemy family.
Reid emphasized the importance of real-life matters, stating that Bieniemy would take the necessary time to address the situation. He also confirmed Mia Bieniemy’s stable condition, referring to her as “a saint” and “one of God’s great blessings.” Reid did not specify how long Bieniemy would be away from the team. In his absence, pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier and offensive line coach Andy Heck will assume his duties as the Chiefs proceed with offensive installations during training camp.
The Chiefs are scheduled for a day off on Tuesday, with the first full-squad workout at Missouri Western State University slated for Wednesday.
Eric Bieniemy’s Coaching Career and Return to Kansas City
Eric Bieniemy has a long-standing history with the Kansas City Chiefs, having joined coach Andy Reid’s initial staff in 2013. He served five seasons as the running backs coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator. During his subsequent five seasons as offensive coordinator, Bieniemy played a key role in the Chiefs’ success, helping the team reach three Super Bowls and secure two victories. His leadership contributed to one of the NFL’s top offenses.
Despite interviewing for several head-coaching positions, Bieniemy was not selected for those roles. In 2023, he moved to the Commanders as offensive coordinator, aiming to enhance his coaching resume. After one season with the Commanders, where the team faced struggles and coach Ron Rivera’s staff was dismissed, Bieniemy spent a season as the offensive coordinator at UCLA. He then served as the running backs coach for the Bears last season.
Bieniemy returned to the Chiefs this season to take over as offensive coordinator, replacing Matt Nagy. He participated in offseason workouts in Kansas City over the summer and was with the team when training camp commenced last week. Coach Reid had previously praised Bieniemy’s return, highlighting his energy and leadership qualities, noting that he “always brings great energy” and is “one of the more phenomenal guys I have been around at being a leader of men.”
The Chiefs are set to hold their first full-squad workout at Missouri Western State University on Wednesday.
Source: cnn.com
