UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Chip Kelly’s NFL return appears to be gaining momentum

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/1/24

With several offensive coordinator positions still open, the odds of Chip Kelly returning to the NFL appear to be getting better.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported nearly two weeks ago that Kelly was garnering interest from several NFL teams, and on Thursday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned one team specifically as a possible landing spot for the current UCLA Bruins head coach.

“UCLA head coach Chip Kelly is a potential candidate for Commanders OC under new head coach Dan Quinn, per sources,” Fowler tweeted. “Kelly, a two-time NFL head coach, is believed to have interest in returning to the league and Washington will consider talking with him.”

It would make sense for Chip Kelly to leave for an NFL OC job. UCLA is moving to a tougher league, his DC left for USC and his buyout drops to $4.27 million next December. Another reset the clock move like Hafley.

But two college head coaches possibly resetting their clocks with…
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) February 2, 2024

The Commanders hired Dan Quinn as their new head coach on Thursday, meaning the team’s 2023 offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, will be looking for a new employer after interviewing for Quinn’s job and not getting it.

Kelly interviewed for the OC job with the Las Vegas Raiders before they decided to go with Kliff Kingsbury. Other teams searching for a new offensive coordinator include the Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans.

Known for his up-tempo offensive scheme, which relies heavily on RPOs and deceptive play calling, Kelly is regarded as one of the more innovative offensive minds in football.

Kelly has been UCLA’s head coach since 2018 after flaming out as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016). In his six seasons with the school, Kelly has compiled a 35-34 record and gone 1-1 in bowl games.

He signed a multi-year contract extension in March that will pay him $6.1 million in 2024 and $6.2M from 2025-27.

More must-reads: