Northwestern hires Chip Kelly, the longtime college and NFL coach, to be its new offensive coordinator
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Northwestern announced Tuesday it has hired longtime college and NFL coach Chip Kelly to be the offensive coordinator on coach David Braun’s staff.
Kelly, 62, had a highly successful stint as Oregon’s head coach from 2009-12, going 46-7 and taking the Ducks to the national championship game in his final season. He also has been a head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and UCLA.
He was fired in November as the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator after just 11 games. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Ohio State’s 2024 national championship team.
“This is a seminal moment for our program under David Braun’s direction and another indication that we are prepared to pursue the highest standard of excellence in all that we do,” Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson said in a statement. “Our student-athletes perform at an exceptional level academically and competitively, and we proudly maintain one of the strongest retention rates in the country, due in large part to Coach Braun’s leadership and the culture he has established.”
Kelly replaces Zach Lujan, the former South Dakota State offensive coordinator who served as Northwestern’s OC and quarterbacks coach for two seasons.
Northwestern finished the season 7-6 after a 34-7 win over Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. But the Wildcats’ push toward a bowl game was driven largely by the defense.
The Northwestern offense ranks 96th in the FBS in both scoring (23.4 points per game) and total yards (346.1 per game). Quarterback Preston Stone, a graduate transfer from SMU, threw for 2,400 yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
“This program and university are clearly on the rise, and the values of the people and this place align with my own,” Kelly said in a statement. “I am grateful for the opportunity. There is tremendous potential under Coach Braun’s leadership, and I’m ready to contribute to this team.
“There is great momentum around the program, and the opening of the new Ryan Field reflects Northwestern’s commitment to excellence and innovation. It will be a major asset as we continue to move forward, and I am excited to get to Evanston.”
Northwestern is set to open the new $862 million Ryan Field next season.
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