Eric Bieniemy sent an indirect warning to Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice after OTAs — and he better listen before he’s shown the door

Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy declined to comment on WR Rashee Rice’s off-field situation, but he had a lot to say that’s highly relevant to it.

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor

Jun 5, 2026 11:40 AM EDT

Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy declined to comment on WR Rashee Rice during his media availability following OTAs.

“As far as Rashee Rice is concerned, I’m going to leave everything with Coach Reid’s quote and statement that he made, and leave it at that,” Bieniemy said.

Rice, of course, remains jailed after violating his probation. He’s missed all of OTAs, and he’ll miss next week’s mandatory minicamp. He’s also rehabbing a knee injury and was granted the ability to receive treatment for said injury while in jail.

When Rice returns to Kansas City, he should know exactly what he’s in for with Coach Bieniemy. He is known for his strict coaching style, demanding accountability, discipline, and attention to detail.

Bieniemy didn’t directly comment on Rice’s situation, which isn’t a surprise. However, Bieniemy had a lot of relevant things to say that sure felt like they were meant for the fourth-year receiver.

Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy warns players not to take opportunities for granted

If you’ve listened to Coach Bieniemy before, you’ve heard him speak about the imaginary sign on the front door when you walk into the building. That imaginary sign is meant as a reminder of the work that’s required to be an NFL player, a competitor, and a champion. It’s also a reminder that someone else is waiting to take your job.

“Well, the thing is, first and foremost, we always want guys to come out and not take anything for granted, just like we discuss all the time,” Bieniemy said. “There’s an imaginary sign outside the door: We’re hiring all applicants. But at the end of the day, we want these guys to make sure that they’re reapplying every single day. We can’t get comfortable and not enjoy the fundamentals that we have to work on every single day. I think, more than anything, that’s what we have to do. And so, we got to get comfortable being uncomfortable, but on top of that, we’ve got to continue to work. We can’t get bored with the little things that’s going to help us to grow.”

Bieniemy harps on fundamentals and the little things, but not just on the football field. How you manage the details off the field and in your preparation makes all the difference in the world.

“When I say the little things, it’s just not necessarily taking place on the football field,” Bieniemy continued. “It’s how we enter the building, it’s what we’re doing in the weight room. What we’re doing in the training room. It’s what we’re doing in our meeting room. So, we got to make sure that we’re not taking anything for granted, because those little things end up adding up for either good reasons or bad reasons. So, we just want to make sure that our perception becomes our reality.”

Selfishness will not be tolerated under Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy

There’s always a lot of talk about accountability with Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy. He operates under a specific philosophy: How every player and coach goes about their business impacts the success of the entire organization.

Bieniemy has high expectations for how players conduct themselves as people, players, and professionals. How you carry yourself and go about your business matters beyond perception. It affects every facet of the team.

“The expectations have always been high, and I expect our guys to perform at a certain level,” Bieniemy said. “I expect them to handle and conduct themselves in a professional manner. With all that said, we just need to make sure that we understand that it’s not about the individual; it’s about the greater group and then the whole. We need to gain a complete understanding of that, and don’t get me wrong, I mean we’ve got some great players; these guys are doing a great job, but now let’s make sure that we’re sacrificing and doing all of the necessary things that are going to help the man next to me to be better in a defining moment. So, it’s all about over-communication and making sure guys understand the value of the man sitting next to you.”

Mutual reliance is the difference between success and failure. If you can’t trust the man next to you to do their job, you’re going to fail in the NFL. You can’t be selfish; instead, you’ve got to be selfless.

It’s a message that Rice hasn’t yet seemed to grasp. Rest assured, he’ll get with the program once he returns to the team. As Chiefs RG Trey Smith said about Bieniemy, “Get it together, or he’ll get you together.”