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Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is sharing an encouraging update on his wife, Mia, following an alleged shooting at their Virginia home last month.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 18, the 57-year-old coach said Mia is making strong progress in her recovery and praised her resilience throughout the ordeal.
"She's on a great road to recovery," Bieniemy said. He described his wife as "a soldier" and "a saint," adding that watching her recover has been an incredible experience.
Bieniemy also explained that Mia's recovery was one of the main reasons he stepped away from the Chiefs' training camp. After spending several weeks with his wife and other family members in Virginia, he joked that Mia eventually encouraged him to return to work.
"I know I was driving her and a bunch of my family members crazy in the house," he said with a laugh. "She was like, 'You have my blessing to leave.' It was time to get back."
According to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News, Mia was shot in the left forearm and shoulder with a .22-caliber firearm at the family's home in Ashburn, Va., on July 26. She was subsequently hospitalized following the incident.
The couple's 27-year-old son, Elijah, was arrested in connection with the shooting. Loudoun County court documents obtained by PEOPLE show that he faces three felony charges related to the incident.
Bieniemy missed 11 practices while remaining in Virginia with his wife. He eventually returned to Chiefs training camp on Monday, Aug. 10, after spending about two weeks away from the team.
Upon his return to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo., Bieniemy appeared to be in good spirits as he made his way around the training camp grounds.
Two days later, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce spoke positively about having the veteran coach back with the team.
Kelce highlighted Bieniemy's intensity and said that quality is one of the things he appreciates most about his offensive coordinator. He also praised Bieniemy's willingness to hold players accountable, noting that while his approach can sometimes be frustrating, responding positively to that accountability can ultimately help players improve.
"I love that," Kelce said of Bieniemy's intensity, adding that the team had missed that quality in Kansas City.
Bieniemy is in his second stint with the Chiefs after previously serving as the team's offensive coordinator from 2018 through 2022.
