There will be a familiar face on the opposing sideline — or in the opposing booth — the next time Ohio State faces Northwestern.
Former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was named Northwestern’s newest offensive coordinator on Tuesday, December 30, just months after being fired from the same job on the Las Vegas Raiders and one year after guiding the Buckeyes’ offense to a College Football Playoff National Championship.
“Sources: Northwestern is hiring veteran coach Chip Kelly as the school’s new offensive coordinator,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel wrote on X. “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.”
This will be the fourth team Kelly has coached on in 4 seasons — he was UCLA’s head coach from 2018 to 2023 before resigning to take the job at Ohio State.
“Welcome to Northwestern, Chip Kelly!” Northwestern Football wrote on its official X account. “A veteran offensive mind with 35 years of NFL and college experience joins David Braun’s staff as Offensive Coordinator.”
Braun Has Impressive 2-0 Record in Bowls
Braun, 40 years old, took over as Northwestern’s head coach after current Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired in 2023 and has a 19-19 record through his first 3 seasons — a mark that includes a 2-0 record in bowl games.
Northwestern went 7-6 in 2025 and defeated Central Michigan, 34-7, in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on December 26 in Detroit.
Kelly Controversial Figure in NFL, College Football
Kelly has been one of the most well-known coaches in all of football for the last decade-plus, dating back to his run as Oregon’s offensive coordinator and head coach in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Kelly left Oregon to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles but was fired after 3 seasons in 2015. It’s the moment that many look at as the start of the current Philly dynasty, which includes the first 2 Super Bowl wins in franchise history.
“10 years ago today — the Eagles fired Chip Kelly with one game left to go in the 2015 season,” Eagles Fan Central wrote on its official X account on December 29. “The franchise’s turnaround had begun.”
The NFL wasn’t done being enamored with Kelly’s “genius” approach to offense. He got one more shot as a head coach with the San Francisco 49ers, where he was fired after going 2-14 in 2016.
Another Chance at Big Time College Football
Kelly got another chance to coach big time College Football at UCLA, but couldn’t fix the apathy surrounding a program that has one Top 10 finish in the last 25 years.
After going 35-34 in 6 seasons at UCLA, Kelly turned his one season at Ohio State into what probably amounts to his last massive payday on any level.
The Raiders made Kelly the highest paid offensive coordinator in the NFL when they signed him to a 3-year, $18 million contract in February 2025 but fired him after just 11 games and a 2-9 start to the regular season.
The Raiders are 2-14 headed into the final game of the regular season and currently hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Former Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Lands at Big Ten Rival