After a disappointing season that saw the school finish 7-6 overall, Northwestern University has announced that former San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly has now been hired as their new offensive coordinator. He had previously been fired from the Oakland Raiders after a dismal season, though he did help lead Ohio State to a national title as their OC.
Sources: Northwestern is hiring veteran coach Chip Kelly as the school’s new offensive coordinator. He’s a two-time college (Oregon/UCLA) and NFL head coach (Philly/SF) who brings an expertise in varying systems and personnel, which was appealing to Northwestern. pic.twitter.com/sMqTqrfpau
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 30, 2025
Chip Kelly has had an extensive resume, which included stints as the head coach of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, as well as college head coach at Oregon and UCLA. However, he had a dismal performance as the OC at Las Vegas, leading to his firing. His hiring at Northwestern had mixed reactions from fans.
“This is either a quiet genius hire… or the weirdest culture fit imaginable,” one fan noted.
“Moving from UCLA to Northwestern… Chip must really have a passion for high academic standards and cold Saturdays in November. ❄️🏈” another person added.
“Smart move by Northwestern. Chip Kelly’s experience across college and the NFL—and his adaptability with different systems, could give their offense a much-needed spark and credibility.” said one person who was impressed with the hiring.
“This man continues to fail upward. One of the greatest examples in the football world,” one unimpressed fan commented.
“The fit doesn’t match for me… maybe it’s a draw to get players in, but Kelly and Northwestern doesn’t blow me away,” another fan opined.
“He’s going from one job to another collecting one massive paycheck after another based on his first and last name only and teams are paying this nomad. How much is Northwestern ponying up? $ 6 million a year perhaps. This is ridiculous,” added another unimpressed fan.
Chip Kelly Will Need To Prove Himself
Chip Kelly will have to prove himself despite his long record as a coach, especially after his stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. He was fired shortly after the team’s loss to Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns, with the team falling to 2-9 at that time.
After his success at Ohio State, Kelly soon became one of the NFL’s highest-paid offensive coordinators. Despite this, however, he ran one of the worst offenses in the league. This means that when he arrives at Northwestern, he must be able to change things up.
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