Report: Chip Kelly expected to leave UCLA for Ohio State OC job

Chip Kelly had appeared interested in leaving UCLA in recent weeks after the school was reportedly close to firing him late in the 2023 season. Kelly is indeed now leaving Los Angeles as he is expected to be hired as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, per Bruce Feldman.

Kelly will replace Bill O’Brien, who was named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ohio State in January. O’Brien was with the Buckeyes for less than a month, before landing the Boston College head coaching job.

Prior to Bruce Feldman’s report, Matt Zenitz shared that Chip Kelly had informed his UCLA team that he was leaving for another job. Minutes later, Feldman confirmed that Kelly was indeed going to Ohio State.

Chip Kelly spent the past six seasons at UCLA and was successful his last three years there. The Bruins went 8-4, 9-4 and 8-5 to close out Kelly’s time in LA.

The 60-year-old has a background in offense and helped produce some of the most explosive offenses in college football history.

Kelly got his first opportunity at the Power 5 level in 2007 when he was hired as the offensive coordinator at Oregon. During his two seasons as OC, the Ducks set school records for yards per game and points per game both years.

Oregon averaged 41.9 points and 484.8 yards per game in 2008 under Kelly’s spread, up-tempo offense.

Chip Kelly was named the head coach at Oregon ahead of the 2009 season and had four outstanding years. The Ducks went 10-3, 12-1, 12-2 and 12-1 in his four seasons as head coach.

From there, Kelly tried his hand at the NFL. He was named the head coach of the Eagles ahead of the 2013 season and spent three years in Philadelphia.

He was fired after going 6-9 in 2015 and then went to the 49ers, where his team struggled to a 2-14 record.

Kelly spent 2017 working as an analyst at ESPN, before returning to the college ranks ahead of the 2018 season, taking over the UCLA program.

Late last season, news broke that UCLA was likely to fire Kelly. However, after that report, the Bruins beat rival USC and won the LA Bowl against Boise State, leading to Kelly keeping his job. Still, it’s been clear that Kelly wasn’t happy at UCLA. He reportedly interviewed for multiple NFL offensive coordinator openings this offseason.

This is a solid hire for an Ohio State program that has been close to having great seasons recently but has been unable to get over the hump. The Buckeyes lost to Michigan each of the past three years, including 2023, when the Wolverines went on to win the national title.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day opted to make staff changes this offseason, which ultimately led to Kelly joining the program.