Ohio State is set for a significant shake-up in its coaching staff come 2025, with the announcement of Chip Kelly’s departure after just a year as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Kelly is making the jump back to the NFL to become the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders, joining the ranks of those buckling up for the high-octane ride of the National Football League, as reported by ESPN stalwarts Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel.
Kelly’s exit marks the third major coaching change for the Buckeyes this offseason. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has packed his bags for a defensive role at Penn State, while Justin Frye, the offensive line coach, has headed west to take on a similar position with the Arizona Cardinals.
There’s a financial aspect to Kelly’s departure, as his initial three-year deal with Ohio State includes a $350,000 buyout for leaving to become an NFL assistant. Kelly’s jump isn’t entirely surprising, considering his interest in an NFL coordinator position was well-documented even before he joined Ohio State’s ranks last February. Originally brought in to take over for Bill O’Brien—who himself made a swift exit to Boston College after a mere three weeks—Kelly has been a pivotal member of the Buckeye staff.
Ryan Day, Ohio State’s head coach, chose to hand over offensive play-calling duties to Kelly last season, a first for Day in his six-year coaching tenure. This decision proved fortuitous as Kelly’s guidance helped the Buckeyes average an impressive 35.7 points per game, boosting their score by over five points from the previous season. This offensive prowess was highlighted by quarterback Will Howard, who achieved a school-record 73% completion rate, steering Ohio State to a national championship win.
With Kelly’s departure, Ohio State is on the hunt for its third offensive coordinator in as many years. While there’s conjecture surrounding potential candidates like the familiar Brian Hartline, who was promoted in 2023 to co-offensive coordinator following Kevin Wilson’s departure to Tulsa (and who might make a return since rejoining the job market after his dismissal), Ohio State will likely attract a wealth of national interest. After all, leading an offense featuring talents like the standout receiver Jeremiah Smith is undoubtedly an alluring prospect.
As Kelly steps back into the NFL limelight—recalling his days as head coach with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers—his shift underscores his desire to immerse himself in core football coaching roles, as opposed to the more administrative CEO-style duties he initially undertook at UCLA from 2018 to 2023. His new role with the Raiders marks a return to the nitty-gritty of game strategy in the NFL arena.
