Could Chip Kelly be on his way back to the NFL?
According to multiple reports, Kelly interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders to become their offensive coordinator. Las Vegas eventually settled for former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN is reporting that new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn could be interested in speaking with Kelly about Washington’s offensive coordinator position.
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly is a potential candidate for #Commanders OC under new head coach Dan Quinn, per sources. Kelly, a two-time NFL head coach, is believed to have interest in returning to the league and Washington will consider talking with him.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 2, 2024
Then there is this from Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports:
Raiders were one of those teams. Source with one team who interviewed Dan Quinn this cycle said Chip Kelly was considered by Quinn. https://t.co/wzLEl5DNEU
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) February 2, 2024
So, according to Jones, one of the teams who interviewed Quinn mentioned Kelly as a possible candidate for OC if he landed the head coaching position. The current UCLA head coach was the Eagles’ head coach from 2013-15 and the 49ers’ head coach for one season (2016). He’s been at UCLA since 2018 and reportedly wants to return to the NFL.
Kelly was a fascinating hire by Philadelphia in 2013. While it began well, Kelly went 10-6 in his first two seasons, things soured badly in 2015, and he was fired with one game remaining in the season.
The 49ers hired him in 2016, but San Francisco had a terrible roster, and he was fired after one 2-14 season.
Kelly is an innovative offensive coach whom other NFL coaches studied for years. However, Washington fans aren’t likely to be enthused by a possible Kelly hire for multiple reasons.
Kelly struggled at UCLA his first two seasons but has turned the program around in recent years.