Northwestern University has appointed seasoned coach Chip Kelly as their new offensive coordinator, as announced on Tuesday.
Kelly brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as head coach at both the college and NFL levels, having led teams like Oregon, UCLA, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers. His proficiency in implementing diverse offensive strategies and adapting to various team dynamics made him an attractive choice for Northwestern, according to sources at ESPN.
Kelly previously clinched a national championship in 2024 as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. His career also includes serving as the offensive coordinator at New Hampshire from 1999 to 2006 and at Oregon from 2007 to 2008, showcasing his extensive background in playcalling and leadership.
“His inventive offensive strategies, which emphasize adaptable tempo, efficiency, and intelligent decision-making, as well as his proven track record in quarterback development and talent optimization, are precisely what our program requires at this juncture,” expressed Coach David Braun in an official statement.
“This marks a transformative shift for our program and underscores our steadfast dedication to pursuing championship victories,” Braun added.
Kelly expressed his enthusiasm by stating, “I am thrilled to become part of the Northwestern Football program. This institution and its football team are clearly on an upward trajectory, and the values here resonate with my own. I am thankful for this opportunity.”
Kelly spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders as offensive coordinator, which ended when he was fired Nov. 23 after a 2-9 start.
More than a month later, he lands at Northwestern. The school will open the new Ryan Field next year with a playcaller who has thrived in the Big Ten at Ohio State and in the Pac-12 at UCLA and Oregon, before both schools moved to the Big Ten.
Northwestern finished No. 15 in the Big Ten in points per game in the regular season (22.5).
Kelly replaces current coordinator Zach Lujan, who has a contract that expires soon after the season. He joins Braun, who has two bowl wins in three seasons at the school, as Northwestern blew out Central Michigan 34-7 in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
The school viewed Kelly, per sources, as someone who could adjust to different personnel and help maximize an offense that ranked No. 96 in the country in both total offense and scoring offense.
Kelly had great success at Ohio State in 2024, culminating with Ohio State’s aggressive finishing playcall against Notre Dame. The Buckeyes sealed the game with a go-ball call to Jeremiah Smith on third-and-11, as he caught a 56-yard pass with less than three minutes remaining to set up a field goal in the 34-23 win.
Ohio State finished 2024 with the country’s No. 14 scoring offense. Kelly’s offenses at Northwestern would project to have a vibe more like his offenses at UCLA, as his 2023 team finished No. 17 nationally in rush offense and his 2022 team averaged a school-record 503.6 yards per game. The 2021 and 2020 Bruins led the Pac-12 in scoring.
Those UCLA teams used the portal well to bring in veteran players and control the game on the ground. They won 25 total games during Kelly’s final three seasons.
Kelly won at Oregon as the coordinator and head coach with an aggressive tempo that helped change the sport, but that style doesn’t appear likely to be replicated at Northwestern.
The hire comes at a time when Northwestern is opening its new state-of-the-art Ryan Field, a project estimated to cost $850 million.
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