Raiders fire offensive coordinator Chip Kelly amid 2-9 start
The Las Vegas Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly following Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The loss dropped the Raiders to 2-9 on the season.
“I spoke with Chip Kelly earlier this evening and informed him of his release as offensive coordinator for the Raiders,” Raiders coach Pete Carroll said in a statement. “I would like to thank Chip for his service and wish him all the best for the future.”
Kelly, 61, had been on the job for less than a year. Sunday’s game marked the sixth time this year that the Raiders’ offense failed to score at least 20 points. In its last three games, Las Vegas has scored just 7, 16, and 10 points, respectively.
Kelly is the second assistant coach the Raiders have fired this season. The team parted ways with former special teams coach Tom McMahon following their Week 10 loss to Denver.
Sunday was largely a microcosm of the Raiders’ offense this season. Against the Browns, the Raiders totaled just 268 total yards, finished 4 of 17 on third down, and made just one trip inside the Cleveland 20-yard line. Quarterback Geno Smith was sacked 10 times, while first-round pick Ashton Jeanty was held to 50 yards on 17 carries.
The Raiders offense entered Sunday’s game ranked 30th in the NFL in scoring, 25th in passing, 30th in rushing and red zone efficiency, and 21st in third down efficiency.
While Kelly certainly deserves some blame, it’s not like he and the Raiders’ offense are poised to have much success this season. In fact, the team traded one of its few players with proven skills – Jakobi Meyers – before the trade deadline. The Raiders also continually received inconsistent play from Smith, who, despite his struggles, continued to benefit from support from Carroll.
Kelly had just won a national title with Ohio State before returning to the NFL. Prior to the Raiders and Ohio State, Kelly was the head coach at UCLA from 2018 to 2023. He was the head coach of the Eagles from 2013 to 2015 before spending one season as coach of the 49ers.
Kelly’s coaching breakthrough came at Oregon, where he spent two years as offensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach. He led the Ducks to a Rose Bowl victory in 2011 and a Fiesta Bowl victory in 2012.
