Skip to main content
ohio-state logo

Report: Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly leaving for Las Vegas Raiders OC job

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•about 10 hours•

SpencerHolbrook

Chip Kelly by Matt Parker -- Lettermen Row --
(Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State will need to replace yet another key piece of its coaching staff following the national championship win.

Last week, the program lost defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, the country’s best defensive coordinator, to Penn State. Then the Buckeyes lost offensive line coach Justin Frye, who will be in the same position for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.

Now Ryan Day will have to hit on another pivotal hire along with those two, because Day is losing his offensive coordinator and play-caller. OC Chip Kelly has accepted the offensive coordinator job with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports.

The former Oregon and UCLA head coach is heading back to the NFL, where he spent four seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016). Kelly has never been an assistant coach in the NFL.

Kelly spent one season as the offensive play-caller for the Buckeyes after leaving his head coaching post at UCLA for the Ohio State coordinator job. It was the first time Day has given up play-calling duties in his career, and it resulted in a national title. Kelly also served as the program’s quarterbacks coach alongside Day and analyst Billy Fessler.

Ohio State wasn’t dominant on paper with its offense, but the stats don’t tell the entire story — at all. The Buckeyes were 14th in scoring offense (35.7), 30th in total offense (429.4 yards per game), 58th in rushing offense (166.4 yards per game) and 29th in passing offense (263 yards per game) on the season. But they finished the year third in passing efficiency metrics, behind only Ole Miss and Indiana.

Quarterback Will Howard improved as a passer during his lone season with Kelly — and at Ohio State. The run game was better than it has been in years behind an attack from the duo of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. And the receivers were typical Ohio State wide receievers.

None of that told the story, though. Ohio State deliberately slowed down its pace this season with a 16-game season, featuring a four-game College Football Playoff run, in mind. And the Buckeyes ended up playing 16 games and winning the national title. The pace of play worked, as the offense looked fast and fresh for the CFP run despite playing a record number of games.

That was a design from Day and Kelly. Now Kelly is off to the NFL and the Buckeyes need a new offensive coordinator, whether Day decides to give himself the play-calling duties back or not.

Chip Kelly spent one season at Ohio State, and he won his first national championship in college football as a key assistant for Day.

Ohio State coaching staff

Head coach — Ryan Day
Offensive coordinator — OPEN
Wide receivers coach — Brian Hartline
Running backs coach — Carlos Locklyn
Tight ends coach — Keenan Bailey
Offensive line coach — OPEN

Defensive coordinator — OPEN
Defensive line coach — Larry Johnson
Linebackers coach — James Laurinaitis
Cornerbacks coach — Tim Walton
Safeties coach — Matt Guerrieri

You may also like