Chip Kelly’s Name Buzzing Around Kentucky’s Coaching Search - But What Does It Really Mean?
The University of Kentucky is officially in the market for a new head football coach, and one name that’s started to gain traction among players in Lexington? Chip Kelly.
According to reports, Kelly’s name has been circulating within the Kentucky locker room as a potential candidate to replace Mark Stoops, who was let go on Sunday. Now, let’s be clear - this isn’t confirmation that Kelly is on the school’s shortlist or even that he’s in active talks with the program. But when a name like Chip Kelly starts echoing through a locker room, it’s worth paying attention.
Kelly, who was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders, parted ways with the team just last week. His departure followed a tough season where the Raiders struggled to find rhythm offensively, finishing near the bottom of the league in just about every major offensive category - 30th in total offense, 31st in scoring, 31st in rushing, and 25th in passing.
Still, despite the Raiders’ offensive woes, Kelly’s name carries weight - especially at the college level. His track record in the NCAA is well-documented and, frankly, impressive.
At Oregon, Kelly was a force of nature. In just four seasons as head coach, he went 46-7, led the Ducks to a BCS National Championship appearance, and turned Eugene into one of the most innovative offensive hubs in the country.
His up-tempo, spread-style offense changed the way college football was played - and coached.
After his stint at Oregon, Kelly made the leap to the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles brought him on in 2013, hoping his college magic would translate to the pros.
It did - for a while. His first season saw the Eagles make the playoffs, but things unraveled quickly after that.
He was fired in the middle of his third season in Philly, then spent one year with the 49ers before being let go again.
Kelly returned to college football in 2018, taking the reins at UCLA. His six-year run with the Bruins was a mixed bag - a 35-34 record that never quite lived up to the sky-high expectations that followed him from Oregon. Still, there were flashes of what made him such a hot commodity in the first place: creative play-calling, quarterback development, and a knack for finding mismatches.
In 2024, Kelly made an unconventional move, stepping down from UCLA to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. That gamble paid off - the Buckeyes won the national title with Kelly calling plays. That championship ring added another layer to his already fascinating résumé, and it may have helped pave the way for his brief stint with the Raiders this year.
Now, just months removed from his NFL return, Kelly’s name is back in the college football rumor mill. And while nothing is official, the fact that Kentucky players are even talking about him says something. It suggests that, despite recent struggles at the pro level, Kelly’s reputation as a college innovator hasn’t faded.
At 62, Kelly isn’t the young disruptor he once was, but he remains one of the most intriguing figures in coaching. If Kentucky is looking to make a splash - to bring in a name that will energize the fan base and shake things up offensively - Kelly fits the bill. The question is whether he’s ready to jump back into the head coaching spotlight, and whether Kentucky is ready to go all-in on a coach with both a high ceiling and a fair share of question marks.
For now, it’s just chatter. But in the world of college football, chatter has a way of turning into headlines fast. Keep an eye on this one.