Chip Kelly’s Coaching Career: From Oregon to Ohio State

Chip Kelly‘s coaching career is a testament to his versatility and perseverance in both college and professional football. Kelly began his coaching journey in the late 1980s, working as a defensive coordinator and assistant coach at various college programs, including Columbia, New Hampshire, and Johns Hopkins.

Kelly’s breakthrough came when he was promoted to head coach at the University of Oregon in 2009, following the departure of Mike Bellotti. During his four-year tenure at Oregon, Kelly led the Ducks to a remarkable 46-7 record, including a 33-3 mark in the Pac-12. His teams won the Rose Bowl in 2011 and the Fiesta Bowl in 2012, and they also appeared in the BCS National Championship Game in 2010, where they lost to Auburn.

Kelly’s success at Oregon attracted significant NFL interest, and in 2013, he left the Ducks to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent three seasons with the Eagles, achieving a 26-22 record but was fired after a 7-9 season in 2015. Kelly then moved to the San Francisco 49ers for the 2016 season but was fired after a dismal 2-14 record.

After a year off from coaching, Kelly returned to college football in 2018 as the head coach of the UCLA Bruins. He spent five seasons at UCLA, initially struggling but eventually leading the team to three consecutive eight-win seasons before leaving after the 2023 season.

In 2024, Kelly transitioned to the role of offensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes, replacing Bill O’Brien. This move marked his return to the Big Ten and set up an intriguing matchup against his former team, the Oregon Ducks, in a significant conference game.