Chip Kelly’s Departure from Ohio State Football: A Planned Move
In a surprise move, Chip Kelly announced his departure from Ohio State football to join the Las Vegas Raiders as their new offensive coordinator. However, according to Ohio State coach Ryan Day, this move was not unexpected. In fact, it was part of a year-long plan that Kelly and Day had discussed prior to the 2024 season.
Day revealed that he and Kelly had talked about the possibility of Kelly leaving after one season, citing the goal of winning a national championship together. With Ohio State’s victory over Notre Dame in the College Football National Championship on January 20, that goal was achieved. Kelly’s decision to leave for the NFL was the next step in their planned journey.
The relationship between Day and Kelly dates back to their hometown of Manchester, New Hampshire. Kelly coached Day as a quarterback at the University of New Hampshire from 1998 to 2001. They also worked together in the NFL, with Day serving as an assistant coach under Kelly with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 and the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.
Their reunion in 2024 proved to be a successful one, with Ohio State winning the national championship and Kelly becoming the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL. Day reflected on the experience, saying, “To be able to have a beer in a few years and talk about the year that we had together is going to be special… We went and did that. What a great story.”
Kelly’s departure may have caught some fans off guard, but it was always part of the plan. As Day noted, the goal was to win a national championship, and with that accomplished, Kelly was free to pursue other opportunities. The partnership between Day and Kelly may have been brief, but it was undoubtedly successful, and their friendship and mutual respect will endure.
In the end, Kelly’s move to the NFL is a testament to the strength of his relationship with Day and the success they achieved together. As Day looks to the future, he can take pride in knowing that their partnership helped bring a national championship to Ohio State, and that Kelly is moving on to new challenges with the Las Vegas Raiders.
