Chip Kelly headed to Raiders as offensive coordinator

Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly laughs during practice in Carson, Calif., Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, ahead of Rose Bowl College Football Playoff game against Oregon. Photo by ASS

The Raiders added another championship-winning coach to its staff Sunday afternoon.

Fresh off winning the College Football Playoff national championship as offensive coordinator at Ohio State, veteran coach Chip Kelly is taking the same position in Las Vegas. ESPN's Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel initially reported the move.

Kelly interviewed to become the Raiders’ offensive coordinator last offseason but coach Antonio Pierce ultimately went with Luke Getsy, whom he then fired midseason. The 61-year-old Kelly must have made a bigger impression on new coach Pete Carroll, the only current coach with both a Super Bowl and college football national championship.

Carroll’s longtime offensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks, Darrell Bevell, was considered the frontrunner to follow him to Las Vegas but the newly appointed 73-year-old instead went with a former NFC West divisional rival.

Kelly has spent four years an NFL head coach, culminating in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers after three years leading the Philadelphia Eagles. Carroll’s Seahawks beat Kelly’s 49ers in both meetings nine years ago.

Kelly’s best year as an NFL coach was his debut in 2013 when his Eagles had one of the best offenses in the league and won the NFC East before losing in the first round of the playoffs.

He initially rose to prominence as the coach at the University of Oregon from 2009-2012. Three of Kelly’s four Ducks’ teams finished the season rated in the nation’s top five, and his 2010 squad reached the BCS National Championship Game before losing to Auburn.

Kelly got the best of Carroll in their one college football meeting, a 47-20 Oregon win over USC in 2009.

Now the two former rivals will join forces with the new-look Raiders. The only continuity inside the coaching staff will be on the other side of the ball where Carroll retained defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

Carroll, Kelly and new general manager John Spytek have a major decision to make at quarterback where it’s widely believed the Raiders will seek help outside of the current roster. Kelly will presumably now have to say as to whether the Raiders attack the need primarily through the draft or free agency.