Chip Kelly Named Northwestern Football Offensive Coordinator

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Chip and his wife, Jill, to our university,” said Braun. “His innovative approach to offense using systems that focus on varying tempo, efficiency and smart decision-making, his track record of developing quarterbacks, and his ability to maximize talent are exactly what our program needs at this moment. I am extremely grateful for the ongoing partnership of our university, Mark Jackson and passionate supporters to make this addition happen. Make no mistake: this is a program-defining change and is reflective of our long-term commitment to the pursuit of championships.”

Prior to his time in Las Vegas, Kelly served one season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at The Ohio State University, where he helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship by orchestrating one of the most explosive and efficient offenses in college football. In Columbus, Kelly directed an offense that averaged 36.3 points per game in four College Football Playoff victories and finished the season ranked No. 14 nationally in scoring offense (35.7 ppg) and No. 30 in total offense (429.4 yards per game).

“I am honored to join the Northwestern Football program,” said Kelly. “This program and university are clearly on the rise, and the values of the people and this place align with my own. 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.”

Kelly served as head coach at UCLA from 2018–2023, compiling a 35–34 overall record while overseeing consistent offensive growth. The Bruins ranked No. 17 nationally in rushing in 2023, set a school record for total offense in 2022 (503.6 yards per game), and led the Pac-12 in scoring in both 2020 and 2021. UCLA finished No. 12 nationally in scoring offense in 2021 and produced multiple top-15 rushing attacks during Kelly’s tenure.

“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,” said Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Mark Jackson. “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. We are excited to welcome Chip into the Northwestern family as we prepare to compete at the new Ryan Field, a college football stadium unlike any other ever built, underscoring our commitment to sustained success on and off the field.”

Kelly’s NFL head coaching experience includes three seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles (2013–15), during which the franchise ranked among the top four in the NFL in scoring offense, total offense, and rushing offense over that span. The Eagles posted a 10–6 record and won an NFC East title in 2013, set an NFL record with 99 plays of 20 yards or more, followed by scoring a team-record 474 points in 2014. Kelly coached multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro performers, including LeSean McCoy, and oversaw career-best seasons from several offensive skill players. He served as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for one season (2016) during which the team improved its rushing offense from 21st to fourth in the league, totaling 2,019 rushing yards and ranking among the NFL’s most productive ground attacks.

As the head coach at the University of Oregon (2009–12), Kelly established himself as one of the nation’s most influential offensive coaches. He led the Ducks to a 46–7 overall record, three consecutive conference championships, and three straight 12-win seasons, averaging 44.7 points per game. Oregon appeared in a BCS bowl game each season under Kelly, earning victories in the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. He was named AP National Coach of the Year in 2010 and Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2010.

A native of Dover, New Hampshire, Kelly played quarterback and safety at the University of New Hampshire from 1981–1984. He began his coaching career with two seasons at Columbia (1990–1991), working on defense and special teams, before returning to New Hampshire in 1992 as running backs coach. He spent the 1993 season as the defensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins University. Kelly then went on to spend 13 years at his alma mater in multiple roles, including offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and running backs coach. He helped quarterback Ricky Santos win the 2006 Walter Payton Award and led offenses that averaged more than 400 yards per game in seven of eight seasons, establishing a legacy of high-powered, versatile football programs.