The Kansas City Chiefs are making significant moves both on and off the field as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season [13]. Eric Bieniemy is set to return as offensive coordinator, a move welcomed by tight end Travis Kelce [2, 10, 14]. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are working with Kansas lawmakers on a stadium deal that aims to avoid raising taxes [5, 8, 9].
Bieniemy's Return and Kelce's Future
After spending the 2025 season as the running backs coach for the Chicago Bears, Eric Bieniemy is finalizing a deal to return to the Kansas City Chiefs as offensive coordinator [2, 11, 14]. Kelce expressed his excitement about Bieniemy's return, stating, "It's gonna be awesome to see him back in the building" [10]. Tyreek Hill also made a cryptic social media post about Bieniemy's return, adding to the buzz [6].
Adding to the optimism, Travis Kelce hinted at returning for another season with the Chiefs [3, 4]. This comes after speculation arose when Kelce referred to the Chiefs as "the Chiefs" rather than "we," leading some to believe he wouldn't be on the team when Patrick Mahomes returned [3]. Kelce seemed to be "soaking in the final game of the season at Arrowhead Stadium," further fueling retirement rumors [3]. However, his recent comments suggest he's not ready to hang up his cleats just yet [4].
Stadium Deal Advances
The Chiefs are also working with Kansas lawmakers on a stadium deal that aims to keep the team in Kansas City for the long term [5, 9]. According to Maxwell, the agreement was reached "without raising taxes on the Kansas taxpayers" [8]. The STAR bonds package was initially authorized for 30 years, but Maxwell believes they could be paid off in "20 years or below," potentially even under 15 years, thanks to development generated by the stadium in Wyandotte County and the headquarters in Olathe [5]. Local incremental sales taxes from these districts will also contribute to paying off the STAR bonds [7].
Addressing Rushing Woes
The Chiefs are also predicted to address their ineffective run game by signing a $9 million running back [1, 13]. This move could provide a much-needed boost to their offense, which struggled at times during the 2025 season [1]. The team finished with a 6-11 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback [1, 13].
TL;DR
* Eric Bieniemy is returning to the Kansas City Chiefs as offensive coordinator after a stint with the Chicago Bears [2, 14]. * Travis Kelce hinted at a return to the Chiefs, easing concerns about his potential retirement [4, 10]. * The Chiefs are working with Kansas lawmakers on a stadium deal that aims to avoid raising taxes and could pay off STAR bonds early [5, 8]. * The team is expected to address their rushing woes by signing a $9 million running back to bolster their offensive capabilities [1].