After one season at Ohio State, Chip Kelly is returning to the NFL for the first time in nearly a decade.
The Las Vegas Raiders have hired Kelly as their new offensive coordinator under new head coach Pete Carroll. Kelly, 61, previously worked in the league as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016). He also called the offensive plays at both places.
In his lone year with the Buckeyes, Kelly helped guide the program to a national championship. He was likely set up for further success, but the Raiders apparently made him the proverbial offer he couldn’t refuse.
According to NFL insider Albert Breer, Kelly will be the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator with a salary of $6 million annually.
“The @Raiders told candidates during their search they were making a serious commitment with an infusion of cash from the new owners,” Breer said. “Here it is—Chip Kelly was lured to Vegas with a deal averaging $6 million per year, per sources. Kelly is now the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator.”
That’s an opportunity that is tough to turn down. Kelly will certainly have his challenges with a Raiders offense that currently doesn’t have a franchise quarterback leading it, but he’ll be paid handsomely to try and figure out how to make it work.
Additionally, Kelly will work under Carroll, who was incredibly successful in his 14 seasons as the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach. Carroll spent the 2024 season as an advisor with Seattle after stepping down from his coaching post last offseason.
As for Ohio State, head coach Ryan Day now needs to replace both coordinators. Jim Knowles, who coached up a fearsome Buckeye defense in 2024, is now at Penn State after two seasons in Columbus, and Kelly is headed to Sin City.
Also, OSU lost offensive line coach Justin Frye to the same position with the NFL’s Chicago Bears. That’s three critical hires Day will be tasked with making as the program begins its title defense.
Related: Jeremiah Smith Has 1-Word Reaction To Chip Kelly Leaving Ohio State