Given all that context, what the Chiefs do next matters. Kansas City does not need a rebuild. This isn\u2019t a tear-the-house-down situation. Instead, it\u2019s a recalibration. Simply put, this is about sustaining success before it slips away entirely. The Chiefs missed the playoffs this year for a multitude of reasons, but pretending they suddenly became talent-poor isn’t one of them. The problem wasn\u2019t ability. Rather, it was direction. And, above all else, it starts with the offense.<\/p>\n
A Stale Offense Wasting an All-Time Quarterback<\/h3>\n![\"Chiefs](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/12\/Chiefs-dynasty-reset-season-1024x689.jpg\")
Dec 7, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walks off the field after the game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nChiefs fans already know this. I\u2019ve written about it<\/a>. More importantly, you\u2019ve lived it.<\/p>\nThe Chiefs’ offense was ranked 20th in 2025,<\/p>\n
The offense looked stale. Flat. Predictable. As a result, it didn\u2019t pressure defenses. It didn\u2019t dictate tempo. It didn\u2019t force anyone to adjust. And when you have Patrick Mahomes, along with legitimate talent across the offense, that\u2019s simply unacceptable.<\/p>\n
So, naturally, the question becomes simple: what happened?<\/em><\/p>\nThe answer, first and foremost, starts with coaching. This isn\u2019t meant as a shot at Matt Nagy<\/a> as a person. He\u2019s respected in the building. Players like him. However, results are results. Every year he ran the offense, production declined. That responsibility belongs to the offensive coordinator. At the same time, Andy Reid<\/a> also deserves accountability for not addressing it sooner. Still, according to all reports, Nagy is moving on. At this point, that door is closed.<\/p>\nAnd because of that, Eric Bieniemy’s hiring <\/a>as the new offensive coordinator is the right move.<\/p>\nWhy Bieniemy Makes Sense Now<\/h3>\n
With Bieniemy returning, I like the move. A lot.<\/p>\n
Right now, what Kansas City needs most isn\u2019t a new playbook or another schematic revolution. Instead, what they need is daily accountability. That\u2019s exactly what Bieniemy brings.<\/p>\n
Andy Reid is elite at the big picture. In fact, he\u2019s one of the greatest play designers in NFL history. He sets culture, commands respect, and leads a locker room better than almost anyone. However, because of his personality-calm, player-friendly, relationship-driven\u2014he needs a bad cop to play off of him so that details don\u2019t slip. That\u2019s where Bieniemy comes in. He has always been that guy.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not known as a brilliant play designer like Reid, and that\u2019s okay. That\u2019s not his value for Kansas City. Instead, his value is in cleaning up the offense. When a new concept is installed, Bieniemy is the one demanding that it be run correctly. Every step, every rep, every day. Timing. Spacing. Execution. No shortcuts. For that reason alone, his presence matters because that level of accountability has been missing.<\/p>\n
The Trust That Once Defined the Offense<\/h3>\n
There\u2019s a reason Bieniemy\u2019s name never stopped coming up in Kansas City.<\/p>\n
Fans aren\u2019t being emotional. Rather, they\u2019re reacting to a real absence\u2014detail, urgency, preparation. Chiefs fans still remember Super Bowl LIV<\/a> for a reason. Late in the game against San Francisco<\/a>, Mahomes suggested running Wasp, a concept tied directly to Bieniemy\u2019s influence<\/a>.<\/p>\nThat moment mattered not just because it worked, but because it showed trust. Mahomes trusted Bieniemy. Players trusted Bieniemy. And, as a result, the offense had answers when it mattered most.<\/p>\n
That level of trust, however, hasn\u2019t felt present the last three seasons.<\/p>\n
The Decline Under Nagy Is Real<\/h3>\n
The numbers, unsurprisingly, back up what the eye test has been screaming.<\/p>\n
Since Matt Nagy took over as offensive coordinator in 2023, Mahomes\u2019 efficiency has steadily declined:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
2023:<\/strong> 67.2%, 4,183 yards, 27 TDs, 14 INTs, 92.6 rating<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
2024:<\/strong> 67.5%, 3,928 yards, 26 TDs, 11 INTs, 93.5 rating<\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
2025:<\/strong> 62.7%, 3,587 yards, 22 TDs, 11 INTs, 89.6 rating<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nBy comparison, in 2022, during Beiniemy’s final year, the numbers looked very different:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
5,250 yards, 41 TDs, 105.2 rating<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIn 2023, the excuse was the drops. In 2024, it was injuries. However, neither explanation accounts for the decline in 2025. That\u2019s three<\/em> straight years of regression. At that point, it\u2019s not a coincidence.\u00a0 It\u2019s a system problem.<\/p>\nAccountability Isn\u2019t Optional<\/h3>\n
This offense hasn\u2019t just struggled\u2014it\u2019s looked unprepared.<\/p>\n
Receivers don\u2019t adjust to scramble drills. Route spacing collapses late in games. Meanwhile, tempo disappears when urgency should rise. Those aren\u2019t talent issues. Instead, those are coaching issues.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where Bieniemy separates himself. He brings something no one else on the staff does: a voice players don\u2019t want to disappoint. Every coaching staff needs someone willing to bark. Not everyone\u2014but someone. And, ideally, that person is your offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n
Defense naturally has that edge. Offense often doesn\u2019t. As a result, Bieniemy fundamentally changes the dynamic.<\/p>\n
The Bigger Picture: Protecting Mahomes<\/h3>\n
Mahomes\u2019 injury didn\u2019t create the Chiefs\u2019 problems\u2014it exposed them.<\/p>\n
For far too long, the offense relied on Mahomes to fix broken plays instead of functioning as a system. Without him at full strength, there was no identity to fall back on: no reliable run game, no rhythm passing attack, no structure capable of carrying the load.<\/p>\n
That has to change.<\/p>\n
Going forward, the Chiefs need an offense that works before<\/em> Mahomes improvises. Structure first. Creativity layered on top. A run game that demands respect. Receivers who understand space, not just speed. Tempo used with intent.<\/p>\nWhen that structure exists, Mahomes becomes the best closer in football. When it doesn\u2019t, even greatness breaks down.<\/p>\n
This Is a Reset, Not a Step Back<\/h3>\n
Eric Bieniemy\u2019s return isn\u2019t about nostalgia. Instead, it\u2019s about standards.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs built their dynasty on discipline, preparation, and accountability long before the rings arrived. That foundation still exists\u2014it\u2019s just been tested. And historically, great organizations evolve. They reset before the collapse forces them to.<\/p>\n
Kansas City has done it before. This move signals they understand the moment.<\/p>\n
If they get this right, the championship window doesn\u2019t just stay open\u2014it widens.<\/p>\n
Mahomes shouldn\u2019t have to save the offense.
He should finish it.<\/p>\n
And with Eric Bieniemy’s return to the Chiefs, they can finally look ready to remember who they are.<\/p>\n
Main Image: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eric Bieniemy Is the Reset the Chiefs Have Been Avoiding These are still the Kansas City Chiefs. More importantly, this is still a franchise with Patrick Mahomes. It is still the same organization that, just a year ago, was a game away from its third straight Super Bowl appearance. Given all that context, what the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5698,"featured_media":203694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6431,16],"tags":[188,3611,7466,3385,1576],"class_list":["post-263578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-teams","category-chiefs","tag-andy-reid","tag-eric-bieniemy","tag-kansas-city-chiefs-news","tag-matt-nagy","tag-patrick-mahomes"],"modified_by":"Mike Roberts","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5698"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263578"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":263594,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263578\/revisions\/263594"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Chiefs fans already know this. I\u2019ve written about it<\/a>. More importantly, you\u2019ve lived it.<\/p>\n The Chiefs’ offense was ranked 20th in 2025,<\/p>\n The offense looked stale. Flat. Predictable. As a result, it didn\u2019t pressure defenses. It didn\u2019t dictate tempo. It didn\u2019t force anyone to adjust. And when you have Patrick Mahomes, along with legitimate talent across the offense, that\u2019s simply unacceptable.<\/p>\n So, naturally, the question becomes simple: what happened?<\/em><\/p>\n The answer, first and foremost, starts with coaching. This isn\u2019t meant as a shot at Matt Nagy<\/a> as a person. He\u2019s respected in the building. Players like him. However, results are results. Every year he ran the offense, production declined. That responsibility belongs to the offensive coordinator. At the same time, Andy Reid<\/a> also deserves accountability for not addressing it sooner. Still, according to all reports, Nagy is moving on. At this point, that door is closed.<\/p>\n And because of that, Eric Bieniemy’s hiring <\/a>as the new offensive coordinator is the right move.<\/p>\n With Bieniemy returning, I like the move. A lot.<\/p>\n Right now, what Kansas City needs most isn\u2019t a new playbook or another schematic revolution. Instead, what they need is daily accountability. That\u2019s exactly what Bieniemy brings.<\/p>\n Andy Reid is elite at the big picture. In fact, he\u2019s one of the greatest play designers in NFL history. He sets culture, commands respect, and leads a locker room better than almost anyone. However, because of his personality-calm, player-friendly, relationship-driven\u2014he needs a bad cop to play off of him so that details don\u2019t slip. That\u2019s where Bieniemy comes in. He has always been that guy.<\/p>\n He\u2019s not known as a brilliant play designer like Reid, and that\u2019s okay. That\u2019s not his value for Kansas City. Instead, his value is in cleaning up the offense. When a new concept is installed, Bieniemy is the one demanding that it be run correctly. Every step, every rep, every day. Timing. Spacing. Execution. No shortcuts. For that reason alone, his presence matters because that level of accountability has been missing.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason Bieniemy\u2019s name never stopped coming up in Kansas City.<\/p>\n Fans aren\u2019t being emotional. Rather, they\u2019re reacting to a real absence\u2014detail, urgency, preparation. Chiefs fans still remember Super Bowl LIV<\/a> for a reason. Late in the game against San Francisco<\/a>, Mahomes suggested running Wasp, a concept tied directly to Bieniemy\u2019s influence<\/a>.<\/p>\n That moment mattered not just because it worked, but because it showed trust. Mahomes trusted Bieniemy. Players trusted Bieniemy. And, as a result, the offense had answers when it mattered most.<\/p>\n That level of trust, however, hasn\u2019t felt present the last three seasons.<\/p>\n The numbers, unsurprisingly, back up what the eye test has been screaming.<\/p>\n Since Matt Nagy took over as offensive coordinator in 2023, Mahomes\u2019 efficiency has steadily declined:<\/p>\n 2023:<\/strong> 67.2%, 4,183 yards, 27 TDs, 14 INTs, 92.6 rating<\/p>\n<\/li>\n 2024:<\/strong> 67.5%, 3,928 yards, 26 TDs, 11 INTs, 93.5 rating<\/p>\n<\/li>\n 2025:<\/strong> 62.7%, 3,587 yards, 22 TDs, 11 INTs, 89.6 rating<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n By comparison, in 2022, during Beiniemy’s final year, the numbers looked very different:<\/p>\n 5,250 yards, 41 TDs, 105.2 rating<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n In 2023, the excuse was the drops. In 2024, it was injuries. However, neither explanation accounts for the decline in 2025. That\u2019s three<\/em> straight years of regression. At that point, it\u2019s not a coincidence.\u00a0 It\u2019s a system problem.<\/p>\n This offense hasn\u2019t just struggled\u2014it\u2019s looked unprepared.<\/p>\n Receivers don\u2019t adjust to scramble drills. Route spacing collapses late in games. Meanwhile, tempo disappears when urgency should rise. Those aren\u2019t talent issues. Instead, those are coaching issues.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where Bieniemy separates himself. He brings something no one else on the staff does: a voice players don\u2019t want to disappoint. Every coaching staff needs someone willing to bark. Not everyone\u2014but someone. And, ideally, that person is your offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n Defense naturally has that edge. Offense often doesn\u2019t. As a result, Bieniemy fundamentally changes the dynamic.<\/p>\n Mahomes\u2019 injury didn\u2019t create the Chiefs\u2019 problems\u2014it exposed them.<\/p>\n For far too long, the offense relied on Mahomes to fix broken plays instead of functioning as a system. Without him at full strength, there was no identity to fall back on: no reliable run game, no rhythm passing attack, no structure capable of carrying the load.<\/p>\n That has to change.<\/p>\n Going forward, the Chiefs need an offense that works before<\/em> Mahomes improvises. Structure first. Creativity layered on top. A run game that demands respect. Receivers who understand space, not just speed. Tempo used with intent.<\/p>\n When that structure exists, Mahomes becomes the best closer in football. When it doesn\u2019t, even greatness breaks down.<\/p>\n Eric Bieniemy\u2019s return isn\u2019t about nostalgia. Instead, it\u2019s about standards.<\/p>\n The Chiefs built their dynasty on discipline, preparation, and accountability long before the rings arrived. That foundation still exists\u2014it\u2019s just been tested. And historically, great organizations evolve. They reset before the collapse forces them to.<\/p>\n Kansas City has done it before. This move signals they understand the moment.<\/p>\n If they get this right, the championship window doesn\u2019t just stay open\u2014it widens.<\/p>\n Mahomes shouldn\u2019t have to save the offense. And with Eric Bieniemy’s return to the Chiefs, they can finally look ready to remember who they are.<\/p>\n Main Image: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Eric Bieniemy Is the Reset the Chiefs Have Been Avoiding These are still the Kansas City Chiefs. More importantly, this is still a franchise with Patrick Mahomes. It is still the same organization that, just a year ago, was a game away from its third straight Super Bowl appearance. Given all that context, what the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5698,"featured_media":203694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6431,16],"tags":[188,3611,7466,3385,1576],"class_list":["post-263578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-teams","category-chiefs","tag-andy-reid","tag-eric-bieniemy","tag-kansas-city-chiefs-news","tag-matt-nagy","tag-patrick-mahomes"],"modified_by":"Mike Roberts","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5698"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263578"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":263594,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263578\/revisions\/263594"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Why Bieniemy Makes Sense Now<\/h3>\n
The Trust That Once Defined the Offense<\/h3>\n
The Decline Under Nagy Is Real<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Accountability Isn\u2019t Optional<\/h3>\n
The Bigger Picture: Protecting Mahomes<\/h3>\n
This Is a Reset, Not a Step Back<\/h3>\n
He should finish it.<\/p>\n