Chip Kelly Returns to the NFL: A New Chapter with the Las Vegas Raiders
In a move that has the football world buzzing, Chip Kelly is making his way back to the NFL. The Las Vegas Raiders have appointed Kelly as their new offensive coordinator under the leadership of head coach Pete Carroll. This exciting development was confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel on Sunday.
Kelly, who is 61 years old, has spent the last seven years immersed in the world of college football. Most recently, he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the national champion Ohio State. Under his guidance, the team averaged an impressive 35.7 points per game, culminating in a 14-2 season and a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame for the national title.
Before his time at Ohio State, Kelly was the head coach at UCLA for six seasons, where he achieved a 35-34 record with the Bruins. His last stint in the NFL was in 2016 when he took on the role of head coach for the San Francisco 49ers, leading them to a 2-14 season. Prior to that, he was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2015, where he managed a 26-21 record and secured one playoff appearance.
With Kelly’s addition, Pete Carroll has completed his coordinator staff, retaining defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and special teams coordinator Tom McMahon. Carroll, who was introduced as the new head coach last Monday, expressed his desire for a diverse coaching staff.
“I’m really looking for people that have been with me, that understand the philosophy to some extent,” Carroll said. “I [also] want guys that have never been around me before so they have to learn what we’re all about and we can watch the process of them learning what we’re all about and what we expect. And then I’m hoping that we can maintain some of the terrific coaches that are on the staff, too, so we can have the benefit of the insights that they bring and the continuity that they can generate for us.”
Carroll’s history with Kelly is notable. As the coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll went 3-0 in head-to-head matchups against Kelly’s Eagles and Niners teams. Their rivalry dates back to college, where Kelly’s Oregon Ducks defeated Carroll’s USC Trojans in 2009. Kelly’s tenure at Oregon was marked by a remarkable 46-7 record over four seasons, including an appearance in the national title game, two Rose Bowl appearances, and a Fiesta Bowl win.
Kelly’s departure from Ohio State marks the third key assistant to leave the Buckeyes this offseason. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has moved to Penn State, and offensive line coach Justin Frye has joined the Arizona Cardinals.
Carroll, meanwhile, is making his return to the NFL after a one-year hiatus. The former head coach of the Seahawks, New England Patriots, and New York Jets was hired in January to replace Antonio Pierce, who was let go following a 4-13 season.
In Las Vegas, Kelly will have the opportunity to work with some promising talent. The Raiders boast a first-team All-Pro tight end in Brock Bowers, who was the No. 7 pick of the 2024 draft, and a receiver in Jakobi Meyers, who just recorded his first career 1,000-yard receiving season. However, the team has needs at running back and quarterback and holds the No. 6 overall draft pick, along with an extra third-round draft pick from the Davante Adams trade to the New York Jets. With more than $108 million in salary cap space and a new general manager in John Spytek, the Raiders are poised for a significant rebuild.
Kelly is renowned for his play-calling prowess, having served as a longtime offensive coordinator and innovator at New Hampshire and Oregon. His offenses have evolved from a breakneck tempo to a more deliberate NFL style. Wanting to focus more on football and less on the off-field responsibilities of a college head coach, Kelly left UCLA for Ohio State last year.
Kelly’s tenure at Ohio State ended on a high note, with the Buckeyes averaging 36.3 points per game in the College Football Playoff against Top 10 teams. His strategic brilliance was on full display in the title game, where a go-route to freshman Jeremiah Smith on a third-and-11 late in the game sealed the victory for Ohio State. The 56-yard play will be remembered as a defining moment in Ohio State history.
Kelly’s arrival at Ohio State was timely, as head coach Ryan Day, who played for Kelly in college at New Hampshire, entrusted him with offensive play-calling duties. This allowed Day to focus more on the overall management of the program.
Early in his career, Kelly had one of the most successful and transformative runs of a college coach this generation. His Oregon teams utilized a devastating tempo, that led to a cutting-edge strategic advantage that defined his time there.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel contributed to this report.
Originally Written by: ESPN
