Former USC Trojans’ offensive analyst and Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has found a home again in the NFL.
With Bruins’ head coach Chip Kelly potentially eying an NFL return, the Las Vegas Raiders presented the best last option for him to make the jump to the big leagues before this season begins. However, it was too late.
Nonetheless, Chip Kelly decided to join Ryan Day at Ohio State as the OC, moving from one Big Ten program (soon, at least) to another.
Prior to Kingsbury’s hire, Kelly’s name was floated as a potential fit in Washington and Las Vegas. But when Kingsbury wiggled out of his pending deal with Las Vegas, he opted for the other remaining vacancy with the Commanders, who hold the #2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Having interviewed twice with the Raiders so far, following Kingsbury’s departure, Kelly’s name likely re-entered the fold with the Seattle Seahawks as well, but he ultimately chose to go to Columbus. Or, maybe he got passed over for the Seahawks job.
The #Raiders interviewed #UCLA coach Chip Kelly at least twice for their vacant OC job under Antonio Pierce, sources say. Kelly appeared open to a return to the NFL… but Pierce ultimate chose Kliff Kingsbury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 2, 2024
Given the Bruins’ change in conference to the BIG 10 and a near-dead-even .500 record (35-34) since Kelly’s hire back in 2018, perhaps the time was now for a coaching change at UCLA.
His departure comes with all kinds of obstacles, and Bill Plaschke, Dan Wolken, and many others weren’t entirely thrilled at the timing of the move.