The wife of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was shot on Sunday night in Northern Virginia, allegedly by their son, authorities said. Loudon County Sheriff’s deputies found a woman “suffering from multiple gunshot wounds” in the 2000 block of Northpark Drive in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Ashburn, officials said. Elijah Zion Bieniemy, 27, was arrested and booked on suspicion of malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside of a dwelling, according to a sheriff’s statement .
He was booked into the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center and held without bond. There “is not believed to be any threat to the public,” according to the sheriff. The Chiefs are in preseason training at Missouri Western State University in St.
Joseph, Missouri. “She’s a saint,” Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters on Monday, calling Mia Bieniemy “one of God’s good blessings.” “But the fact that she’s in stable condition, I think is a positive for what it could be.” The team’s passing game coordinator, Joe Bleymaier, and offensive line coach, Andy Heck, will expand their duties while Bieniemy attends to his injured wife, according to Reid. “The club is aware of the incident involving Eric Bieniemy’s family,” Chiefs spokesperson Brad Gee said on Monday.
“Out of respect for their privacy, we won’t have a comment at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.” The elder Bieniemy, 56, is in his second stint as Chiefs offensive coordinator. He ran the K.C.
offense from 2018 to 2022, coaching in three Super Bowls during that span. He went on to run the offense for the Washington Commanders and UCLA Bruins before serving as running backs coach for the Chicago Bears in 2025 before returning to his previous position with the Chiefs. This is a developing story.
Please check back for updates. Joe Kottke is an assignment editor at NBC News covering domestic news, including politics, immigration, crime, entertainment and severe weather.
