Chip Kelly Joins Northwestern as Offensive Coordinator: A Bold Move with Big Implications
Northwestern is making a splash this offseason, bringing in a name that needs no introduction in college football circles. Chip Kelly, one of the most innovative offensive minds of the past two decades, is headed to Evanston as the Wildcats’ new offensive coordinator. The move, reported by ESPN, gives head coach David Braun a high-profile addition to his staff as the program looks to turn the page on a sluggish offensive year.
Kelly comes to Northwestern fresh off a whirlwind year that saw him serve as offensive coordinator for both Ohio State and the Las Vegas Raiders. While his NFL stint with the Raiders ended in November, his impact at Ohio State was undeniable - he helped guide the Buckeyes through the expanded College Football Playoff and capped it off with a national championship. That kind of pedigree doesn’t just walk through the door every day in the Big Ten.
A Proven Track Record - With the Resume to Back It Up
Let’s talk about what Kelly brings to the table. As Oregon’s head coach from 2009 to 2012, he went an eye-popping 46-7, made a national title game appearance, and redefined offensive football with his up-tempo, spread-based attack. His Ducks teams were fast, efficient, and relentless - and they changed how the game was played at the college level.
After his Oregon run, Kelly jumped to the NFL, where he had a mixed bag of results. He led the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs in his first season, taking over a 4-12 team and turning them into a division winner.
But after a 2-14 season with the 49ers in 2016, his NFL coaching career hit a reset. He returned to the college game at UCLA, where he went 35-34 across six seasons, before joining Ryan Day’s staff at Ohio State in 2024.
Now, he’s back in the college ranks full-time - and this time, it’s with a Northwestern program that’s looking to level up.
Why Northwestern? Why Now?
For David Braun, the timing of this hire couldn’t be better. With the transfer portal window opening on January 2, bringing in a coordinator like Kelly gives Northwestern a serious selling point for offensive recruits and transfers.
The Wildcats finished this season ranked 96th nationally in both total offense and scoring offense - numbers that simply weren’t going to cut it moving forward. With former play-caller Zach Lujan’s contract expiring, the door was open for a shakeup, and Braun didn’t hesitate.
Kelly’s offensive identity is well-established: tempo, quarterback-centric decision-making, and a heavy dose of RPOs (run-pass options). That style requires the right trigger man under center, which makes the quarterback position a critical piece of the puzzle heading into 2026.
Northwestern might already have something to build on there. Preston Stone, a transfer from SMU, was this year’s starter and capped off the season with a strong showing - tossing three touchdown passes in a 34-7 bowl win over Central Michigan. Whether Stone remains the guy or the Wildcats look to the portal again, Kelly’s system will demand quick processing, athleticism, and precision from whoever lines up behind center.
A New Era in Evanston?
This hire marks a clear statement of intent from Braun. Sitting at 19-19 over three seasons, with a pair of bowl wins under his belt, he’s now signaling that Northwestern isn’t content with just being competitive - they want to be dynamic. And Kelly, for all the ups and downs in his career, still has one of the most creative offensive minds in the game when given the right tools.
At Ohio State, he had those tools in abundance. His offense produced two 1,000-yard rushers, saw freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith emerge as a future star, and helped transform Kansas State transfer Will Howard into a high-level passer. That’s the kind of production Northwestern fans are hoping Kelly can replicate - albeit with a different talent pool.
Of course, the Big Ten isn’t getting any easier. With the addition of powerhouses like USC, Oregon, UCLA, and Washington to the conference, the margin for error is shrinking. But if Kelly can bring even a fraction of the explosiveness we saw at Oregon or Ohio State to Evanston, the Wildcats could find themselves climbing the ladder faster than expected.
Final Thoughts
Chip Kelly’s arrival at Northwestern is more than just a headline - it’s a calculated risk with potentially high reward. For a program that’s often flown under the radar, this is a bold move that could pay big dividends. The pieces are starting to come together, and with Kelly now calling plays, the Wildcats just became one of the more intriguing teams to watch heading into 2026.
Don’t be surprised if this hire turns some heads - and maybe even some defenses - in the Big Ten.