Chiefs’ New OC Eric Bieniemy Explains Why His Favorite Word Is “Finish”
KANSAS CITY — Eric Bieniemy didn’t learn his most important NFL lesson in a Super Bowl.
He learned it on a practice field in 1994, watching Jerry Rice do something that seemed almost boring — until it wasn’t.
At the time, Bieniemy was a running back for the San Diego Chargers, preparing for joint practices against the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers would go on to dominate that season, beating the Chargers three times, including a blowout in Super Bowl XXIX. But what stuck with Bieniemy happened weeks earlier, long before the lights came on.
During seven-on-seven drills, Rice caught a short slant, took it the distance, scored, and jogged back. A few plays later, he did it again. And again.
That’s when it clicked.
“I thought I was a great finisher,” Bieniemy said Thursday on The Kingdom with Mitch Holthus and Matt McMullen. “Until I saw Jerry Rice.
That’s when I realized this stuff doesn’t just happen on Sundays. He rehearsed it every single day.”
Why “Finish” Became Bieniemy’s Obsession
Rice wasn’t freelancing. He was practicing exactly how he played — finishing every rep in the end zone, regardless of whether the drill technically called for it.
That habit rewired Bieniemy’s entire approach to football.
Three decades later, now back in Kansas City as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, Bieniemy still yells the same word at practice after nearly every snap:
“Finish!”
If a receiver looks down? Pop up and sprint.
If a play is whistled dead? Finish anyway.
If the rep looks clean? Finish harder.
“There are a lot of great players in this league,” Bieniemy said. “But there aren’t a lot of great finishers.”
That distinction matters — especially in Kansas City.
The Chiefs Didn’t Finish in 2025
For all their talent, the Chiefs struggled badly in late-game situations last season.
They failed to close out five games where they had chances to tie or take the lead late, including a brutal Week 14 loss to Houston:
- Four fourth-quarter possessions
- Zero first downs
- 19 total yards
It wasn’t a one-off. There were interceptions in Buffalo. A three-and-out in Denver. Missed chances against the Chargers. A failed fourth-down attempt late against the Broncos.
The offense didn’t lack ability — it lacked finish.
That’s exactly the gap Bieniemy believes preparation can close.
“Just like actors rehearse what they’re going to put on tape,” he said, “you’ve got to rehearse how you’re going to finish — so it shows up when it matters.”
The Jerry Rice Standard
Jerry Rice didn’t just finish plays. He finished a career as the greatest receiver in NFL history:
- 1,549 receptions
- 22,895 receiving yards
- 197 touchdowns
And his postseason records still loom large — especially for one Chiefs legend.
What This Means for Travis Kelce
If Bieniemy’s return helps convince Travis Kelce to come back for a 14th season, history could be on the line.
Kelce already owns the NFL record for postseason receptions (178). He’s just:
- 2 playoff TDs shy of tying Rice’s record (22)
- 168 playoff receiving yards away from Rice’s postseason yardage mark (2,245)
That’s not accidental. Kelce’s most productive postseason years came with Bieniemy as his offensive coordinator from 2018–22.
And now, the same voice is back in the building — yelling the same word he’s been yelling for 30 years.
“If you’re going to start something,” Bieniemy said, “you might as well finish it.”
For the Chiefs, that word isn’t just a slogan.
It’s a correction.
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