After being in the mix for a number of NFL offensive coordinator opportunities the past two seasons, Chip Kelly has found the right opportunity to return to the NFL.
Sources tell FootballScoop that after helping lead Ryan Day and Ohio State to the national title, Kelly is headed to Las Vegas to be the new offensive coordinator for Pete Carroll and the Raiders.
Adam Schefter is reporting the same.
Last cycle, while still the head coach at UCLA, Kelly tested the NFL coordinator market, and this year seemed to be the favorite for the Texans head coaching job, but the opportunity in Vegas with Carroll is what ultimately lured Kelly back to the NFL.
It marks Kelly's third stop in the NFL, after leading the Eagles and Niners as their head coach this marks his first NFL coordinator opportunity.
Albert Breer notes that Kelly will be the highest paid coordinator in the NFL as the Raiders committed to paying him $6 million per year. Chip was making $2 million per year as the Buckeyes offensive coordinator, good for 8th best in college football.
Kelly's departure marks the latest of what will be a considerable staff rebuild in Columbus for Ryan Day.
After catching lightning in a bottle in a lot of ways to make their national title run, Day now has to replace his defensive coordinator (Jim Knowles left for Big Ten foe Penn State), offensive line coach Justin Frye (left to become the new offensive line coach with the Cardinals), and now is set to replace another coordinator with Kelly's departure.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.