The Northwestern Wildcats are starting to look like a program on the rise-and they’re not shying away from that narrative. Entering his fourth year at the helm, head coach David Braun has steadily built momentum in Evanston, and after a 7-6 campaign that included some eye-opening wins, there’s a growing sense that something real is brewing in the Big Ten.
Last season, Northwestern knocked off Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota, and capped things off with a bowl win over Central Michigan. That’s not just progress-it’s a sign that Braun’s vision is starting to translate on the field.
But Braun isn’t just resting on a solid season. He’s swinging big this offseason.
The headline move? Bringing in Chip Kelly-yes, that Chip Kelly-as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
It’s a bold hire, and one that could reshape the Wildcats’ offensive identity.
Kelly, of course, made his name with those high-flying Oregon teams in the early 2010s, revolutionizing tempo and spacing in college football. His NFL stints with the Eagles and 49ers didn’t pan out the way many hoped, and his most recent job as OC for the Las Vegas Raiders ended after just 11 games and a 2-9 record. But the college game has always been where Kelly’s creativity shines brightest, and now he’s back in a familiar setting-with a fresh challenge ahead.
Speaking to reporters this week, Kelly sounded energized by the move.
“You're excited about moving into a new stadium, excited about an up-and-coming team,” he said. “The landscape of college football has changed, as everybody knows, so it's a chance to start with a really good program, with really good people. That's what it was about.”
And he’s not alone in feeling that buzz. Braun is clearly confident in what his new offensive brain trust can do.
Alongside Kelly, Northwestern also brought in Jerry Neuheisel as quarterbacks coach-a young, rising offensive mind who called plays for UCLA down the stretch last season. Neuheisel, the son of longtime coach Rick Neuheisel, worked under Kelly at UCLA from 2018 to 2023, so there’s familiarity there, and likely some shared language that should help accelerate the install of whatever scheme Kelly wants to run.
Braun isn’t hiding his expectations, either. He’s talking like a coach who believes his team can make a serious leap in 2026.
“If we're in a boldly state that the goal and expectation is to compete and win Big Ten championships, if you're not on board with that vision, then you shouldn't be here,” Braun said. “And if you are on board with that vision, you're going to be willing to adapt to change.”
That change starts on offense. And Braun is bullish on the group he’s assembled.
“I would argue we've got the best offensive staff in all of college football,” he said.
That’s a strong statement, but not an empty one. Between Kelly’s innovative mind and Neuheisel’s rising stock, there’s real potential for Northwestern to evolve into a more dynamic unit. And with the Big Ten only getting deeper and more competitive, having a tactical edge on offense could be the difference between staying in the middle of the pack and making a legitimate push toward the top.
Let’s not forget: Kelly was the offensive coordinator at Ohio State when the Buckeyes won the national title in 2024. He knows what high-level success looks like, and now he’s stepping into a program hungry to get there.
The Wildcats aren’t just talking about improvement anymore-they’re building toward something. And with Chip Kelly calling plays in Evanston, the rest of the Big Ten might want to start paying attention.