What Happened to Charles 'Chip' Kelly?
Chip Kelly is an American football coach known for his innovative offensive schemes at both the collegiate and professional levels. After successful stints as head coach at the University of Oregon and in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, he returned to college football as head coach at UCLA. Most recently, Kelly served as offensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes, winning a national championship in 2024, then briefly with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, before being hired as the offensive coordinator for the Northwestern Wildcats in December 2025, a position he holds as of July 2026.
Quick Answer
Chip Kelly is currently the offensive coordinator for the Northwestern Wildcats, a position he accepted in December 2025. This move followed a successful 2024 season as offensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he helped lead the team to a College Football Playoff National Championship. His brief return to the NFL in 2025 as offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders ended with his firing after Week 12 due to a 2-9 start to the season. Kelly has a long and varied coaching career, including head coaching roles at Oregon, UCLA, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Becomes Offensive Coordinator at University of Oregon
Chip Kelly joined the University of Oregon as offensive coordinator, quickly implementing his innovative spread offense and leading the Ducks to become one of the nation's highest-scoring teams.
Promoted to Head Coach at University of Oregon
Following Mike Bellotti's promotion to athletic director, Kelly was named the head football coach at Oregon, beginning a highly successful four-year tenure.
Wins Multiple National Coach of the Year Awards
Kelly was recognized with the AP, Eddie Robinson, Walter Camp, AFCA, and Sporting News Coach of the Year awards for his outstanding performance leading the Oregon Ducks.
Leads Oregon to BCS National Championship Game
Kelly coached the Oregon Ducks to their first-ever BCS National Championship Game appearance, where they narrowly lost to Auburn.
Hired as Head Coach of Philadelphia Eagles
Kelly made the jump to the NFL, accepting the head coaching position with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he quickly implemented his offensive philosophy.
Wins NFC East Division Title with Eagles
In his first season as an NFL head coach, Kelly led the Eagles to a 10-6 record and an NFC East championship.
Fired by Philadelphia Eagles
After three seasons, Chip Kelly was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles with one game remaining in the 2015 season.
Hired as Head Coach of San Francisco 49ers
Kelly quickly found another NFL head coaching job, taking over the San Francisco 49ers for the 2016 season.
Hired as Head Coach at UCLA
After a year as an ESPN analyst, Kelly returned to college football as the head coach of the UCLA Bruins, signing a five-year, $23.9 million contract.
Leads UCLA to LA Bowl Victory
In his final season at UCLA, Kelly led the Bruins to an 8-5 record, capped by a victory in the LA Bowl, marking the program's first bowl win since 2015.
Leaves UCLA to Become Ohio State Offensive Coordinator
Kelly departed UCLA after six seasons to accept the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach position at Ohio State, reuniting with Ryan Day.
Wins College Football Playoff National Championship with Ohio State
As offensive coordinator, Kelly helped lead the Ohio State Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff National Championship, orchestrating a highly effective offense.
Hired as Offensive Coordinator for Las Vegas Raiders
Kelly returned to the NFL for a third stint, accepting the offensive coordinator role with the Las Vegas Raiders under new head coach Pete Carroll.
Fired by Las Vegas Raiders
After a disappointing 2-9 start to the 2025 NFL season, Kelly was fired from his offensive coordinator position with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Hired as Offensive Coordinator for Northwestern Wildcats
Kelly quickly returned to college football, accepting the offensive coordinator position for the Northwestern Wildcats, marking his return to the Big Ten conference for the 2026 season.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Charles 'Chip' Kelly has carved out a notable career in American football, recognized for his fast-paced, high-scoring offensive systems. His prominence began as the head coach of the University of Oregon Ducks from 2009 to 2012, where he led the team to a 46-7 overall record, three consecutive conference championships, and an appearance in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. During this period, he earned numerous accolades, including the 2010 AP, Eddie Robinson, and Walter Camp Coach of the Year awards.
Kelly transitioned to the NFL, serving as the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2015. He achieved a 10-6 record and an NFC East title in his inaugural 2013 season, and his offenses consistently ranked among the league's best in scoring and total yards. However, his tenure ended abruptly in December 2015. He then spent one season as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 before returning to college football.
From 2018 to 2023, Kelly was the head coach at UCLA, where he compiled a 35-34 record. While the Bruins showed offensive growth, including setting a school record for total offense in 2022, his overall record and attendance figures were mixed. In February 2024, Kelly left UCLA to become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes, reuniting with head coach Ryan Day, who had previously worked under Kelly. His single season at Ohio State was highly successful, culminating in a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2024, where the Buckeyes' offense averaged 35.7 points per game.
Following this championship season, Kelly made another move back to the NFL, accepting the offensive coordinator position with the Las Vegas Raiders in February 2025 under new head coach Pete Carroll. However, this stint was short-lived; he was fired in November 2025 after the Raiders started the season with a 2-9 record. By December 2025, Kelly returned to the collegiate ranks, accepting the offensive coordinator role for the Northwestern Wildcats for the 2026 season. This move places him back in the Big Ten conference, where he aims to revitalize Northwestern's offense.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Charles 'Chip' Kelly made different choices?