Chip Kelly’s time as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, where he held the title of the NFL’s highest-paid OC, came to an abrupt end after just 11 games.
On Sunday, the team announced they had waived Kelly, following a tough start to the season at 2-9. During this stretch, Geno Smith’s offense struggled significantly, ranking last in the league at 15.0 points per game and third-lowest in yards with an average of 268.9.
Head coach Pete Carroll shared that he had a conversation with Kelly earlier in the evening to inform him of the decision. “We appreciate Chip’s contributions and wish him the best moving forward,” Carroll mentioned in a press statement.
The Raiders, who are preparing to face the Chargers next Sunday and have already had their bye week in Week 8, did not name an interim offensive coordinator.
Kelly, who previously coached the Eagles and 49ers, resurfaced in the NFL after a successful run at Oregon in 2013. He joined Carroll’s staff in the offseason, reportedly on a deal worth around $6 million. Earlier this month, the Raiders also parted ways with special teams coordinator Tom McMahon.
Before his stint with the Raiders, Kelly served as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2024, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship, where he worked with quarterback Will Howard. He made his return to the NFL in a coordinator role after also coaching UCLA in 2023.
The decision to fire him followed a disappointing 24-10 defeat to the Browns, marking the team’s fifth consecutive loss. Smith, despite completing 30 of 44 passes for 285 yards and one touchdown, didn’t score until late in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders had built their offensive strategy around Smith, who was brought in from the Seahawks and awarded a $75 million extension after being claimed off waivers from the Jets. Additionally, they drafted standout running back Ashton Zity with the sixth overall pick last April.
However, the team managed to score above 25 points only once this season, which was during a narrow 30-29 overtime defeat against the Jaguars in Week 9. The inconsistency in their offensive showing ultimately led to the changes made on Sunday.
