Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day made an unexpected acknowledgment that raised eyebrows across the football world. According to Day, the Buckeyes might not have secured the national championship without the contributions of one key figure: Chip Kelly.
The former UCLA Bruins head coach stepped into an uncharacteristic supporting role as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, and it made all the difference.
‘We Wouldn’t Have Gotten It Done Without Chip,’ Says Ryan Day
When Kelly joined Ohio State’s coaching staff, it was an unusual move for someone with his résumé — the head coach at UCLA, Oregon, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. Kelly’s decision to serve as offensive coordinator under his former protégé, Day, was a wholesome surprise.
For Day, having Kelly in the fold was invaluable. “You know, for him to come and leave the head coaching position to come work with me meant a lot,” Day said after the championship game. “He’s obviously someone who’s a mentor to me, and certainly, I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”
Kelly’s arrival gave Day the flexibility to step outside his usual role of quarterback guru and take a more comprehensive approach to team leadership.
With Kelly running the offense, Day was able to spend more time working with the defense, a shift he credits with fostering greater unity within the team. “It allowed me to spread out a little bit,” he explained to On3. “And I think it brought us all together.”
Kelly’s offensive prowess was evident throughout the season, especially given the talent at his disposal. With quarterback Will Howard, running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State’s offense became a nearly unstoppable force. “He brought the best out of all of them,” Day said. “And I think the guys would agree — we wouldn’t have gotten it done without Chip.”
A New Chapter in Chip Kelly’s NFL Career?
This success at Ohio State has not gone unnoticed. As NFL teams scramble to fill offensive coordinator vacancies, Kelly’s name has emerged as a top candidate.
Reports suggest that the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans are particularly interested in his services, with other teams, like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also rumored to be in the mix.
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Kelly’s previous NFL experience makes him an attractive option. His offensive ingenuity, combined with his recent championship success at Ohio State, has positioned him as one of the most sought-after offensive minds in football.
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