Northwestern employed Chip Kelly as its offensive coordinator, the varsity introduced Tuesday. Kelly is a former NFL and school head coach at a number of stops. ESPN first reported the information.
Welcome to Northwestern, Chip Kelly!
A veteran offensive thoughts with 35 years of NFL and school expertise joins David Braun’s employees as Offensive Coordinator. pic.twitter.com/RR71XKEXGZ
— Northwestern Soccer (@NUFBFamily) December 30, 2025
Kelly was fired in November because the Las Vegas Raiders’ OC after simply 11 video games. He held the identical function for Ohio State in 2024, serving to it win the nationwide title. He left his head teaching job with UCLA after six seasons, throughout which he went 35-34, to affix the Buckeyes. He’s additionally been a head coach for the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles within the NFL and within the school ranks at Oregon, the place the Geese have been recognized for Kelly’s high-tempo offenses.
Northwestern offensive coordinator Zach Lujan’s contract will reportedly expire after this season. Kelly will be part of head coach David Braun, who simply accomplished his third season in cost. Northwestern ranked 98th within the FBS in whole offense and in scoring offense. The Wildcats went 7-6 total and 4-5 within the Huge Ten this season, profitable the GameAbove Sports activities Bowl over Central Michigan.
What Kelly’s rent means for Northwestern
Kelly is among the sport’s most achieved coaches, however when he isn’t working at a expertise benefit, his outcomes have been common. He received’t have a expertise benefit at Northwestern.
His work at Oregon — 46 wins in 4 seasons — earned him an NFL head teaching job, however he by no means received a playoff recreation in a league recognized for its parity. And his school offensive scheme was revolutionary a decade in the past, however has been copied so totally within the sport that school defenses have developed solutions they didn’t have when he was at Oregon.
His outcomes at UCLA have been common, and he’s by no means been often known as a dogged recruiter, which can be much less of a difficulty now in a recruiting world dominated by cash and fewer by relationships than it’s ever been.
He helped Ohio State win a nationwide title however rapidly flamed out with a foul roster in Las Vegas within the NFL, being fired after a 2-9 begin beneath Pete Carroll.
Kelly continues to be a reputation that resonates in school soccer and can construct some buzz in Evanston, however he has to show he can construct a robust offense with a roster within the backside half of the Huge Ten. — David Ubben, nationwide school soccer author
