We can now confirm that the rumors of UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly returning to the NFL as an offensive coordinator are very real. Per Ian Rapoport, Kelly interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders twice for their open OC job, before they ultimately hired another LA offensive mind from across town, Kliff Kingsbury.
Interviewing not once, but twice, is pretty telling at where Chip Kelly’s head space is, or at least his desire to potentially head back to the NFL.
Is There Another NFL Opportunity For Chip Kelly?
Well, even with the Raiders filling their OC position with someone else, the idea of Kelly returning to the NFL is not dead yet. The original rumor had the pairing of Dan Quinn and Chip Kelly going to Seattle. The Seahawks ended up hiring Mike Macdonald, but the Washington Commanders ultimately hired Quinn, and the possibility has legs again.
That is a pretty broad thought from Fowler, but as we have learned, where there is smoke there is fire, and this goes in line with the original reporting of Quinn and Kelly as a pair.
The other small wrinkle to this is the fact that Kelly is from New Hampshire. He was born in Dover, played at New Hampshire, and got his first offensive coordinator gig at New Hampshire. DC to Dover is a quick two-hour flight.
I don’t think this is a major factor in his decision-making, but sometimes being close to home can be the final box that needs to be checked on the Pros and Cons list.
I imagine Quinn will want to fill his staff out rather quickly, and obviously, UCLA will need to know what kind of stability they have heading into Spring Ball very quickly and National Signing Day less than a week away.
We will keep you up to date on all the news right here at the LA Football Network.