The Kansas City Chiefs have the greatest offensive playcaller of all time calling the shots for them. No one can deny Andy Reid's merits and genius as an offensive mastermind, even though it hasn't always shown in the past couple of years.
However, even the best of the best need help, and most head coaches are only as good as the people they surround themselves with. That was a lesson the Chiefs learned the hard way after Eric Bienemy's departure.
Even if Reid was in charge of play-calling, the offense was much more explosive and proficient with Bieniemy in the building. As Matt Okada of NFL.com pointed out, the drop-off with Matt Nagy was as disappointing as it was notorious.
Eric Bieniemy provides more than just offensive assistance, but rather a commanding voice
"With Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, you might not think the offensive coordinator should matter much. But numbers are numbers," wrote Okada. "With Eric Bieniemy at OC from 2018 to 2022, the Chiefs led the NFL with 30.1 points per game. In the three years since, they averaged just 21.9 points per game (19th)."
Bieniemy needed the Chiefs as much as they needed him. He didn't do so well after spreading his wings and leaving Arrowhead Stadium, so this return was a match made in heaven. Nagy's deal expired, but the Chiefs shouldn't and weren't bringing him back regardless.
As a former running back, Bieniemy is the perfect guy to bring out the best in Kenneth Walker III. He could become the first Chiefs running back to eclipse 1,000 yards since rookie Kareem Hunt, who, surprise, had Bieniemy coaching him up.
Bieniemy is coming off working his magic with Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears. With him leading the way as the RB coach, the Bears amassed 2,456 rushing yards, the third-most in the league, and that's despite having a mid-tier starter like D'Andre Swift and a seventh-round rookie in Kyle Monangai.
The Chiefs desperately need to establish the run to take pressure off Patrick Mahomes' hands. Even if he's healthy and back on the field for Week 1 -- which is still a big 'if' -- the future Hall of Famer may not be as mobile, and relying on the reigning Super Bowl MVP to lead the way will be the best way to get him out of harm's way.
Moreover, the Chiefs' lack of talent at wide receiver will also put Coach Reid to the test, so having another creative architect by his side should make life easier. He's familiar with the system and the terminology, so there's no reason to believe he won't pick up things right where he left them.
For years, the Chiefs have rallied behind Steve Spagnuolo's defense to get back to the mountaintop, and that worked out until it didn't. That said, you must make the most of your resources, and not giving the best quarterback in football a chance to succeed is a disservice.
Also, Bieniemy has spent plenty of time with Reid and the organization, so he might be a natural successor for when/if the head coach decides to call it a career. If he wants the job, this season will be crucial to prove he can handle it.
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