Raiders Pick Kliff Kingsbury As New O.C. While UCLA's Chip Kelly Vies For Return To NFL
Kliff Kingsbury is back in the NFL, and UCLA's Chip Kelly is apparently bearish on staying in the college game after several reported meetings for an offensive coordinator's role in the NFL. Has the changing landscape of college football caught up to Chip?
Announced on Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders and Kliff Kingsbury are in agreement for the former HC to join Antonio Pierce's staff as offensive coordinator. According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, no deal has been confirmed, despite both parties' agreement.
Kingsbury last appeared in the hiring cycle last season — leaving Thailand with girlfriend Veronica Bielik to interview for the Texans' vacant OC role. Kingsbury escaped to paradise after getting axed by the Arizona Cardinals after operating as head coach from 2019 to 2022. And to the delight of Houston fans, the organization went with Bobby Slowik as OC.
A striking detail in Kingsbury's hiring quickly became Chip Kelly's interest in returning to the NFL, let alone, interest in the Raiders' OC job. Shortly after news broke that Kelly interviewed with Las Vegas, a new report from Jeff Darlington noted that Kelly is also interviewing for the Washington Commanders' vacant offensive coordinator role.
Raiders HC Antonio Pierce met with Kingsbury and Kelly but opted to hire the former, who's been working as USC's senior offensive analyst after being fired from the Arizona Cardinals' head coaching post in 2022.
Kelly wants back in the pros; there's no doubt about his interest, especially if he's sitting down with Washington. So, is the former Oregon Ducks coach and current UCLA head coach seriously considering leaving a Big Ten coaching gig for an NFL OC job?
After all, UCLA's move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, joining the ‘Power 2’ college football ranks, initially ushered bright, new horizons for the program. But in the new age of NIL and the transfer portal, any believer in college football's 'old guard' will want to jump ship now more than ever. Even if it means Kelly — whom some believe holds enough value for an NFL HC role — has to claw his way to a coordinator's role.
Considering Jeff Hafley left Boston College's head coaching job this week to accept the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator role, appeal for FBS coaches to move to the NFL may be at an all-time high.
Kelly boasts an 84-41 head-coaching record in college football, including a trip to the 2010 national championship as HC for Oregon. He previously served as the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles (26-21) and San Francisco 49ers (2-14). Like Jim Harbaugh, Kelly reinvigorated his stock among football coaching circles with a return to the college game.
Washington announced its new head coaching selection on Thursday, hiring former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Kelly remains in the reported pool of OC candidates for the Commanders' vacancy.
Check back with OutKick as the story develops.