Travis Kelce has not declared his future. However, his reaction to Eric Bieniemy’s return quietly shifted the tone around his stalled retirement decision. And now, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator himself added fuel to that optimism with his own comments.

“I’ve had just a small minimum conversation with both, and they all have been great,” Bieniemy said on Chiefs Digest when asked if he’s interacted with Patrick Mahomes and Kelce after his return. “But more than anything, it’s just the excitement of reuniting. It just feels good to sit down and have conversations with guys. I have not talked any football or anything, it’s just the excitement of seeing each other, asking how they’re doing, and making sure everything is is good moving forward. I’m looking forward to getting back in the grind and chopping wood with them.”

Naturally, that last sentence sounded less like nostalgia and more like a future plan. And that feeling only grows stronger when you remember what Kelce said the moment Bieniemy was announced back in the City of Fountains.

“I can’t wait to see him back in the building,” Kelce said. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person, and I just love the guy, and it’s going to be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs logo, baby.”

And with the utmost certainty, nobody would be happier than owner Clark Hunt in case Kelce comes back to reunite with his former offensive coordinator.

“As an organization, we certainly hope that he will come back,” Hunt said on Good Morning Football. “He had another great year, maybe not on par with where he was four or five years ago, but still had over 800 yards, and was really one of the leaders on the offensive side of the ball for us. So there’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play. He has sort of a busy offseason coming up with his engagement and marriage, so we want to be respectful and give him the time he needs to make a decision. But we certainly hope that he’ll be back.”

And Clark’s right. Despite nearing the twilight of his career, the 36-year-old tight end finished with 76 receptions for 851 yards, his second-lowest since the 2015 season, and five touchdowns.

In contrast, when Bieniemy was the OC from 2018 to 2022, Kelce enjoyed five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, with his highest coming in 2020 (1,416), along with 11 touchdowns.

And without a doubt, Bieniemy will be looking to bring back that same level of production in case Kelce decides to return. In fact, that’s also what his vision will be for the whole O-line

Eric Bieniemy wants the locker room to improve right away

Eric Bieniemy’s return comes with a built-in advantage that is hard to ignore. His familiarity with Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ culture should help him settle in fast. At the same time, his years away from the Chiefs may end up being just as important. Those stops with the Commanders, UCLA, and the Bears gave him room to grow, not only as a coach but also as a collaborator who learned how to adjust in different rooms. Still, even with that journey behind him, the core of Bieniemy has not shifted. Chiefdom remembers his voice, his edge, and his constant demand for effort. That part remains intact.

“There are some things about me that have changed, but more than anything, EB is EB,” Bieniemy said. “We’ll be disciplined and detailed in everything in how we handle our business, and there’s a standard of performance and a standard of excellence that will be expected,” he explained. “On top of that, there’s been a wealth [of knowledge] that I’ve learned through the good and the bad, and [it’s] helped me to grow into this role and to be in this situation again.”

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That mix of old habits and new lessons will matter quickly. After all, the Chiefs are coming off their worst finish in the standings in more than ten years. Because of that, Bieniemy’s biggest early task will be fixing a run game that struggled badly. To that end, Bieniemy sounded open-minded but focused.

“Have I been exposed to a number of run schemes? Yes,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to make sure that we’re doing what’s best for us moving forward. I think that’s just a general overall plan.”

Now, the silver lining is clear. All eyes turn to how the Chiefs’ offense responds under his guidance.