Report: Chip Kelly considered top candidate for NFL offensive coordinator jobs

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Ohio State‘s Chip Kelly is considered a top candidate for several offensive coordinator jobs in the NFL. Kelly does have head coaching experience at both the college and NFL level but returned to an OC role with the Buckeyes this season.

Winning the national championship has now brought interest back from the NFL. To this point, no information is available on how receptive Kelly would be to making the jump.

“With all but one head coaching vacancy filled in the NFL, the attention now turns to who will get the offensive coordinator spots that are open around the league,” Jones said. “And sources tell CBS Sports that at the top of the list for several teams is former NFL head coach and current Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

“Kelly is considered a target for both the Jaguars and Texans OC positions, sources say. He also could get looks in Tampa Bay, among other potential landing spots.”

The San Francisco 49ers were the last team NFL team to employ, hiring him ahead of the 2016 season. It only lasted one season as the 49ers went 2-14, tying the franchise’s lowest-ever win total. Kyle Shanahan was quickly hired to replace Kelly.

Prior to this run with Ohio State, Kelly had not been an offensive coordinator since the 2008 season with Oregon. He was the UCLA head coach but decided getting back to football was his main priority. An NFL-type mindset but since Ohio State can recruit itself at times, it has worked out thus far for Kelly.

“You know, for him to come and leave the head coaching position, to come work with me meant a lot, because he’s obviously someone who’s a mentor to me, and certainly would not be where I am without him, and he has just a great feel for the game,” Ryan Day said of Kelly after the CFP national championship win over Notre Dame. “He really helped me this year (and I) spent more time outside of the quarterback room.

“Certainly I was involved very much with the offense, but it allowed me to spread out a little bit and spend more time with the guys on defense, again, not as much as I’d like to, but still enough to just bounce in and out. And I think it brought us all together.” 

Now, the NFL-type mindset could be brought to the NFL. As Jones mentioned, at least three teams have interest in Kelly. Jacksonville and Houston fired their offensive coordinator this off-season, while Tampa Bay saw the Liam Coen saga end with him taking the Jaguars head coaching spot.