Sunday night, the Las Vegas Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Here are some thoughts on the move:
He deserved it:
Let’s get this out of the way right away: Kelly was awful this season. His
offense was out of sync and had no personality all season. He seemed stubborn and he and coach Pete Carroll didn’t always look to be on the right page. Quarterback Geno Smith regressed and Kelly couldn’t get prized rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. Kelly did a terrible job in Las Vegas. There’s no other way to put it.
But Pete is scapegoating:
With that said, Carroll is flailing. In a way, firing Kelly after just 11 games was a cowardly move. He’s just trying to deflect. The Kelly firing comes two games after Carroll jettisoned special teams coach Tom McMahon. The Raiders are 2-9. The season is cooked. Firing these coordinators during the season isn’t going to change the big picture. Carroll’s team is failing and it’s on him. He’s pointing fingers. Meanwhile, the weakest part of this weak team is the offensive line that allowed 10 sacks Sunday and 21 sacks in the past three games. Why not fire the O-line coach? Oh, it’s Brennan Carroll, Pete’s son. This is a mess and while Kelly and McMahon took hits, it falls on Carroll in the end.
It was a fire-like type of day:
The timing of this firing makes sense. Sunday’s 24-10 defeat at home to the Cleveland Browns, who like the Raiders, were 2-8 doing into the game, was a rock-bottom type of moment for the franchise. There was a major stench coming from Allegiant Stadium on Sunday where fans booed the team and Smith fired off an obscene gesture in which the team apologized for. It was an ugly day capped by a major move.
Bad fit to start:
Kelly was an uninspired hire to start. No one was impressed by it. Kelly is a college guy. He failed in his two previous NFL stops (as the head coach in Philadelphia and San Francisco) and he was away from the NFL for nearly a decade. The hire never made sense. He showed from the start that he runs a college offense. It doesn’t work on Sundays.
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More wasted money:
Yes, Mark Davis makes a lot of money in Las Vegas. But, man, does he blow a lot of it on bad hires. Add Kelly to the list. Comically, he was the highest paid offensive coordinator in the league at $6 million for a reported three years. The Raiders flashed big money at Kelly in a sign that things are changing in Las Vegas. But, the reality was, the gave Kelly a huge contract when no one else was offering him an NFL job. Now, they owe another coach money after moving away from him. Nothing has has changed.
Job may not be attractive:
If Carroll returns in 2026, I’m not sure how attractive this job will be for prospective candidates. Carroll, who will be 75 next year, will not be a long-term coach in Las Vegas in any scenario. Plus, while there is Brock Bowers and Jeanty, this offense has big issues in the offensive line and at quarterback. There will be better j0bs whether the Raiders decide to throw big money at the OC position or not.
Don’t expect miracles rest of the way:
The Raiders’ special teams hasn’t improved since McMahon was shown the door, so don’t expect a lot of improvement with Kelly gone. The plan should be basic the rest of the way with Bowers and Jeanty and other young players being the focus of the offense until this dreadful season ends.
Kelly’s future:
It’s highly doubtful he will coach in the NFL again. Kelly is a fine college coach; maybe even a great one. He should have his choice of college jobs in the next month or so, whether it is as a head coach or a coordinator. But stay on Saturdays, Chip.
Kelly’s buddy get its too:
Kelly brought longtime associate Bob Bicknell to Las Vegas and now Bicknell leaves Las Vegas with Chip as NFL Media reported Monday. Tough business … unless you’re coach’s kid, I guess.
