Raiders Pull the Plug on Chip Kelly Experiment
The Las Vegas Raiders have fired offensive coordinator
Chip Kelly after a disastrous 2-9 start to the 2025 NFL season, marking a swift and dramatic end to one of the league’s most high-profile coaching experiments this year. Kelly, who was hired just months ago with much fanfare and a record-setting contract for an OC, failed to revive a Raiders offense that has languished near the bottom of the league in nearly every statistical category.
A High-Profile Hire Gone Wrong
When the Raiders lured Kelly away from Ohio State to join new head coach Pete Carroll’s staff, expectations were sky-high. Kelly’s reputation as an offensive innovator preceded him, and many believed he was being groomed as Carroll’s eventual successor. Instead, the offense sputtered:
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Last in the NFL in points per game (15.0)
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30th in total yards per game (268.9)
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31st in rushing yards per game (79.5)
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28th in red zone efficiency (48.1%)
The breaking point came after a 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, which Raiders fans and analysts alike called one of the worst performances in franchise history.
Fallout and What’s Next for the Raiders
Head coach Pete Carroll addressed the media Monday, confirming Kelly’s dismissal and promising changes to the offensive staff. The move, while not entirely unexpected given the team’s struggles, still shocked many around the league due to Kelly’s stature and the speed of his exit.
Attention now turns to possible replacements. Early speculation centers on Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal, who previously worked with Carroll in Seattle and was nearly hired by the Raiders before Kelly got the job. However, the attractiveness of the position is in question, given the Raiders’ current turmoil and lack of offensive talent.
Chip Kelly’s Next Move: Return to College?
With Kelly now unemployed, rumors are swirling about a possible return to the college ranks, perhaps even a reunion with Ohio State, where he previously served as offensive coordinator. Buckeyes fans are already speculating about whether head coach Ryan Day might bring Kelly back to Columbus to help right the ship after a disappointing season.
The Raiders’ Offensive Curse Continues
For Raiders fans, Kelly’s firing is just the latest chapter in a long saga of offensive woes. The team’s inability to find stability at the coordinator position has become a running joke among NFL observers, with some analysts suggesting that the Raiders’ offensive struggles are now “historic” in their futility.
What This Means for the NFL
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Coaching volatility is at an all-time high, with teams showing less patience for big-name hires who don’t deliver immediate results.
- The Raiders’ offensive coordinator job is now one of the least attractive in the league, given the team’s lack of success and high expectations.
- Chip Kelly’s NFL legacy takes another hit, and his future may lie back in the college game, where his innovative schemes once made him a star.
Takeaways
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Chip Kelly’s NFL comeback with the Raiders is over after less than a season.
- The Raiders’ offense remains in crisis, and the search for a new coordinator is already underway.
- Kelly’s next move could shape the college football landscape if he returns to the NCAA.
Sources
1. Chip Kelly Has Been FIRED By The Las Vegas Raiders ... - YouTube
2. Raiders writer names popular Chargers coach as possible Chip ...
3. Quick Hits: Pete Carroll addresses change in offensive coaching staff after Raiders' loss to the Browns
4. 4 NFL teams who should fire their OC like the Raiders dumped Chip ...
5. Chip Kelly Learns That Like Any Ancient Evil, The Raiders Demand Blood
6. Thoughts on Raiders hiring Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator
7. Pete Carroll on Chip Kelly, Greg Olson taking over the offense
8. Raiders-Broncos score: Chip Kelly taking heat after Thursday Night ...
9. Chat Wrap: How will Buckeyes handle Michigan? Could Kelly come ...
