Brent Key heads into a pivotal offseason at Georgia Tech, and the stakes are clear: build on the momentum from this past season, or risk losing it altogether. The Yellow Jackets showed signs of real progress under Key’s leadership, but with key staff departures and roster uncertainty, this winter has quickly become one of the most important stretches of Key’s young tenure.
Let’s start with the headline-grabber: former Ohio State head coach and UCLA offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was briefly in the mix for Georgia Tech’s open offensive coordinator job. That flirtation alone says a lot about where Key wants to take this program.
Shooting for a name like Kelly signals ambition-and a desire to bring in someone who can elevate the offense to a new level. Kelly ultimately chose to join Northwestern’s staff, but the message was sent: Georgia Tech isn’t settling.
Now, the spotlight shifts back to Key. With the transfer portal heating up and multiple assistant coaches already out the door, the timing of his next hire is crucial. The Yellow Jackets need stability-and fast.
The offensive coordinator vacancy opened when Buster Faulkner left for Florida, and he wasn’t the only one to move on. Running backs coach Norval McKenzie accepted a job at Virginia Tech, and offensive line coach Geep Wade is now at Nebraska.
That’s three key pieces of the offensive staff gone in one offseason. Replacing one coach is tough.
Replacing three, while simultaneously managing the transfer portal and player development? That’s the kind of challenge that can define a program’s trajectory.
Key has been consistent in his messaging: this is a rebuild with a long-term vision. After the season-ending loss to BYU, he spoke about more than just wins and losses.
For him, it’s about culture-finding the right people, building a cohesive staff, and establishing an identity that players and fans can rally behind. That’s the foundation he’s trying to lay, even as the college football landscape gets more chaotic by the year.
One of the biggest question marks heading into 2025 is at quarterback. With Aaron Philo entering the transfer portal, Georgia Tech is left without a clear successor to Haynes King.
Graham Knowles, a rising third-year player, is expected to be in the mix, but it’s likely that Key and his staff will scour the portal for a proven option. In today’s game, quarterback play is everything.
If Georgia Tech wants to keep pace offensively, they’ll need someone who can step in and lead right away.
But it’s not just about the quarterback. The entire roster still needs work-especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Yellow Jackets made strides this past season, but there’s a gap between being competitive and being a consistent contender in the ACC. Key will have to strike the right balance between bringing in experienced transfers and continuing to develop the young talent already in the program.
The search for a new offensive coordinator is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. This offseason will test Brent Key’s ability to recruit, to hire, and to lead.
He’s already shown he can steady the ship and point it in the right direction. Now comes the harder part-navigating the turbulence of a modern college football offseason and coming out stronger on the other side.
If he gets it right, Georgia Tech could be on the verge of something special. But make no mistake: what happens over the next few months could shape the program’s future for years to come.