December 30 (UPI) — The Northwestern Wildcats announced Tuesday the hiring of former NFL and college head coach Chip Kelly as their offensive coordinator.
Northwestern is 7-6 this season under David Braun. The Wildcats rank 98th among the 136 teams in NCAA Division I FBS in points per game. They rank 96th in yards per game (346.1).
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“I am honored to join the Northwestern football program,” Kelly said in the release. “The program and the university are clearly on the rise, and the values of the people and the place align with my own.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity.”
Kelly served as the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator for most of the 2025 NFL season but was fired in November. The Raiders have the worst offense in the NFL, including a near-stagnant running game.
In 2024, Kelly served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ohio State, where he won a national championship with college football’s top defense and No. 14 offense. From 2018 to 2023, he served as the head coach of UCLA.
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Kelly was known as an offensive guru during his tenure as Oregon’s coach from 2009 to 2012, when the Ducks regularly had one of the top offenses in college football. This success was achieved during his first tenure as NFL head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2015.
Kelly went on to coach the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 but was fired after one season. The 49ers had the second-worst offense in the NFL that season, ranking fourth in the rushing attack and 32nd in the passing game.
Kelly’s UCLA Bruins achieved a record of 35 wins and 34 losses. In his first season, they ranked 98th in points per game, but by 2022, their points per game average has improved year over year, ranking eighth nationally. The 2023 Bruins rank 80th in points per game. Kelly headed to Ohio State the following offseason.
“There is tremendous potential under Coach Braun and I am ready to contribute to this team,” Kelly said. “The program has strong momentum and the opening of the new Ryan Field reflects Northwestern’s commitment to excellence and innovation. It will be a great asset as we continue to move forward, and I’m excited to be here in Evanston.”
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In Braun’s first three seasons, the Wildcats went 19-19. They rank 106th in points per game in 2023 and 128th in 2024. Kelly will replace offensive coordinator Zach Lujan, whose contract expires this offseason.
“We are very excited to welcome Chip and his wife, Jill, to our university,” Braun said. “His innovative approach to offense using a system focused on change of pace, efficiency and smart decision-making, his track record of developing quarterbacks, and his ability to maximize talent are exactly what our program needs right now.
“I am extremely grateful for our university’s ongoing partnership; [athletic director] Mark Jackson and passionate supporters made this addition possible. Make no mistake: this is a decisive change that reflects our long-term commitment to the pursuit of championships. “
