Chip Kelly is on the move again - and this time, it's to Evanston.
Just weeks after being let go by the Raiders, Kelly has landed at Northwestern as their new offensive coordinator, a surprising twist in a coaching journey that’s seen more peaks and valleys than most. From helping Ohio State win a national championship just a year ago to now taking over an offense that struggled to crack the top 95 in production, the drop-off has been steep - and fans across the college football landscape aren’t holding back.
The reaction was swift and, frankly, brutal. Social media lit up after ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the hire.
Ohio State fans, in particular, seemed baffled by the move. One summed it up with raw disbelief: “Bruh like why… like why…” Others didn’t need words - just strings of laughing emojis or one-word jabs like “BUM.”
The sentiment was clear: going from a national title-winning program to one of the least productive offenses in the country feels like a major step backward.
But let’s take a step back and look at the full picture.
Kelly’s resume still carries weight. He turned Oregon into a national powerhouse, had head coaching stints in both the NFL and college football, and was widely credited for his role in Ohio State’s title run.
That kind of pedigree doesn’t disappear overnight. And for Northwestern head coach David Braun, who’s trying to revamp an offense that sputtered all season, bringing in a name like Kelly right before the transfer portal opens could be a calculated move to spark some momentum - both on the field and in recruiting.
Still, it’s hard to ignore the pattern. After a meteoric rise at Oregon, Kelly’s NFL stops in Philadelphia and San Francisco ended with more questions than answers.
His most recent stint with the Raiders followed suit, ending before Thanksgiving after just one season. Reports suggest he was making serious money in Las Vegas, but the results didn’t match the paycheck.
Now, he steps into a situation that’s far from ideal. Northwestern has hovered just above .500 over the past three seasons, and their offense has consistently struggled to move the ball. The outgoing coordinator’s contract is set to expire in weeks, and Kelly will be tasked with turning around a unit that simply hasn’t produced.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward move for both sides. For Kelly, it’s a chance to reset - again - and prove he can still scheme at a high level. For Northwestern, it’s a bet that his experience and name recognition can breathe life into a stagnant offense.
The road back to relevance won’t be easy. But if Kelly can recapture even a spark of the innovation that once made his offenses must-watch TV, this could be more than just another stop on his coaching carousel.
It could be the start of a much-needed redemption arc. Only time - and Saturdays - will tell.