Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is heading to the NFL, accepting the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders. While the move may have surprised some, it was actually part of a long-term discussion between Kelly and head coach Ryan Day.
“We talked about it—the fact that we had a really good group here. The dream was to win a national championship, and then he’d decide whether to stay or pursue an NFL opportunity,”Day said on The Joel Klatt Show.
A Championship Season Years in the Making
The first part of that dream came true on January 20, when Ohio State defeated Notre Dame to win its ninth national championship—the first under Day’s leadership. Though Kelly and Day spent only one season together in Columbus, their coaching partnership has spanned decades.
Their connection dates back to their hometown of Manchester, New Hampshire, where Kelly, 16 years Day’s senior, later coached him as a quarterback at the University of New Hampshire (1998–2001). Their professional paths crossed again in the NFL, with Day working under Kelly for the Philadelphia Eagles (2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2016).
The 2024 season, however, marked the first time Kelly worked under Day. Their reunion proved successful, with Ohio State’s offense thriving and Kelly now securing the highest-paid coordinator role in the NFL.
“To be able to have a beer in a few years and talk about this season will be special,”Day said. “We set out to do something big—and we did it. What a great story.”
Now, Ohio State turns its attention to finding Kelly’s replacement, ensuring the Buckeyes remain a dominant force in college football.
