Chip Kelly returns to the NFL to become the offensive coordinator of Las Vegas Raiders under the new head coach Pete Carroll, sources told Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel of ESPN on Sunday.
Kelly, 61, has spent the last seven seasons in university football, including last season as an offensive coordinator of the Ohio State National Champion. Before that, he was a head coach to the UCLA for six seasons, going 35-34.
Kelly led the NFL in 2016 for the last time, when he was chief coach of the 49ers of San Francisco. This one year’s passage came after being the chief coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons (2013-15). He had 28-35 as a chief coach of the NFL.
The addition of Kelly completes the coordinator’s hires for Carroll. The Raiders retain the defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and the coordinator of special teams Tom McMahon.
Kelly becomes the third key assistant to leave Buckeyes this offseason. The defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left Ohio State for the same role with Penn State and the coach of the offensive line Justin Frye left the same role with the Cardinals of Arizona.
Carroll returns to the NFL after an interruption of one year. The former Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots of New England and the head coach of the New York Jets were hired in January to replace Antonio Pierce, who was dismissed after a 4-13 season.
Kelly has long been considered a gifted game game, having been a longtime offensive coordinator and innovative in the New Hampshire and Oregon. While Kelly continued to become the head coach of Oregon (2009-12), then in the NFL, he remained the game game. Besides, his offenses went from the procurement to an NFL style more deliberate.
