Chip Kelly joining Pete Carroll’s staff as NFL’s highest-paid coordinator with Raiders flexing new owners’ wallet

Chip Kelly will be back on an NFL sideline next season.

The former Eagles coach has been brought in to be the offensive coordinator for the Raiders under newly hired head coach Pete Carroll, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday evening.

This will mark Kelly’s first NFL job since 2016, when he was head coach of the 49ers for just one season and was handed his walking papers after San Francisco went a putrid 2-14 on the year.

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly celebrates after winning against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Kelly spent last season as the Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator and was part of the coaching staff that helped guide the program to a national championship.

The Raiders helped sway Kelly away from Ohio State by making him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL.

His deal with Las Vegas will pay him $6 million per year, NFL Network’s Albert Breer reported.

Last week, CBS Sports reported that Kelly was atop the list of several NFL teams that were looking for new offensive coordinators, raising some alarm bells for Buckeyes fans concerned about losing another member of head coach Ryan Day’s staff.

While the speculation swirled, Kelly had been out on the recruiting trail as recently as last Wednesday, according to social media.

Five-star quarterback recruit Jared Curtis posted a picture on social media of Kelly and ᴀssistant quarterbacks coach Bill Fessler making a home visit to him.

Great In home visit!! pic.twitter.com/9ySbIg1sap

— Jared Curtis 2026 QB (@Jaredcurtis37) January 29, 2025

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly before playing against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. — Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly before playing against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Now Kelly joins a Raiders organization that in need of an offensive turnaround after a rough 2024 season.

Las Vegas is coming off a season where they finished 27th in yards per game with 304.2 and 29th in scoring with 18.2 points per game during the 2024 campaign.

Carroll was hired by the Raiders on January 24 after being away from the NFL for a year, becoming the franchise’s fifth head coach since the team relocated from Oakland to Sin City.