There’s a name floating around the Kentucky football facility right now, and it’s one that college football fans know well: Chip Kelly.
According to reports, Kelly’s name has been making the rounds among Kentucky players as a potential candidate for the Wildcats’ head coaching vacancy. Now, to be clear-there’s nothing official here.
No announcement, no confirmation that he’s even a formal candidate. But when players start buzzing about a guy like Kelly, it’s worth paying attention.
Kelly, 62, is fresh off a short-lived stint as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator-a tenure that ended just last week. And while his time in Las Vegas didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard (the Raiders finished 30th in total offense, 31st in scoring, 31st in rushing, and 25th in passing), his résumé in the college game still carries serious weight.
Let’s rewind the tape. Kelly made his biggest mark at Oregon, where he posted a staggering 46-7 record over four seasons.
That run included a trip to the BCS National Championship and established him as one of the most innovative offensive minds in the game. His up-tempo, spread-style attack helped redefine how college offenses operate-and it made him a hot commodity.
That success launched him into the NFL, where he was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. His first year in Philly started strong, even producing a playoff appearance.
But things cooled quickly. Kelly was let go during the 2015 season, and after a one-year stop in San Francisco, he returned to the college ranks with UCLA.
His six-year run in Westwood was a mixed bag-35 wins, 34 losses-but it did include some flashes of the old Oregon magic. Then came a surprising move: Kelly stepped down from UCLA to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. That decision paid off in a big way, as the Buckeyes went on to win the National Championship with Kelly calling plays.
That success helped land him the OC job with the Raiders earlier this year. But the NFL game hasn’t been as kind to Kelly as the college level has. His overall NFL coaching record sits at 28-35, and after one tough season in Vegas, he’s once again a free agent.
So, what does all this mean for Kentucky?
With Mark Stoops out, the Wildcats are looking for a new direction. Kelly’s name surfacing-whether it’s player chatter, smoke from within the program, or just locker room whispers-signals that there’s at least some intrigue about what he could bring to Lexington.
And it makes sense. Despite the ups and downs of his NFL journey, Kelly remains one of the most respected offensive minds in the college game.
If he’s truly in the mix, it would mark a return to a role where he’s historically thrived. And for a Kentucky program trying to shake things up in the ultra-competitive SEC, a bold hire like Kelly could be the kind of swing that changes the trajectory of the program.
It’s still early in the process, and there’s no telling where Kentucky’s coaching search will land. But when a name like Chip Kelly starts to gain traction-even unofficially-it’s worth keeping an eye on.