Son of Chiefs Coach Arrested in Mother’s Shooting
Elijah Bieniemy, son of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, has been arrested. He faces charges for allegedly shooting his mother, Mia Bieniemy, in Ashburn, Virginia. Mia was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds but is currently in stable condition. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid has expressed support for the Bieniemy family after the incident.
Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders have dismissed tight ends coach Ben Steele following his recent DWI arrest. The team announced their decision to “part ways” with Steele before his first season began, without further comments. Steele had been placed on administrative leave after the incident was reported. He is confronting multiple charges, including refusing a blood or breath test and obstructing an officer, according to Virginia court records.
The Commanders plan to appoint a replacement for Steele, with interim roles previously filled by Wes Welker during the offseason minicamp. Steele’s coaching career includes tenure with the Arizona Cardinals as a tight ends coach for three years. His playing career saw stints with teams like the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans between 2004 and 2006.
His coaching journey began soon after his playing days, starting in college football before advancing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff in 2014 as an offensive quality control coach. By 2017, he was promoted to tight ends coach. Steele has also coached for the Atlanta Falcons, Vikings, and Broncos.
Steele’s time with the Cardinals was marked by the rise of Trey McBride, who earned two Pro Bowl selections and achieved at least 1,100 yards in consecutive seasons, including a standout 2025 year. The Commanders, aiming to strengthen their tight end lineup, signed Chig Okonkwo this offseason alongside John Bates and Ben Sinnott.
Washington experienced a challenging 5-12 season, partly due to quarterback Jayden Daniels’ injury, limiting him to seven games. The team hopes to replicate their 2024 success, where Daniels won Offensive Rookie of the Year during a 12-5 season.