Sources – Chip Kelly Leaving Ohio State to become Raiders’ OC

Chip Kelly returns to the NFL to become Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator under the new head coach Pete Carroll, sources of ESPN’s Adam Schafter and Pete Thamel told Sunday.

Kelly, 61, has spent the last seven seasons in college football, including last season as the offensive coordinator of national champion Ohio State. Before that, he was the main coach of UCLA for six seasons and went 35-34.

Kelly Coachede last in the NFL in 2016 when he was the head coach of San Francisco 49ers. The one-year-old stint came after he was Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach for three seasons (2013-15). He was 28-35 as a NFL head coach.

The addition of Kelly ends the coordinator’s employment to Carroll. Raiders retain defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and special team coordinator Tom McMahon.

Kelly becomes the third key assistant leaving Buckeyes this season. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left Ohio State for the same role with Penn State and offensive line trainer Justin Frye traveled to the same role with Arizona Cardinals.

Carroll returns to the NFL after a year of hiatus. Former Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and New York Jet’s main coach was hired in January to replace Antonio Pierce, who was fired after a 4-13 season.

Kelly has long been considered a gifted playcaler after serving as a long -lasting offensive coordinator and innovator in New Hampshire and Oregon. When Kelly went on to become the head coach of Oregon (2009-12), and then in the NFL he remained playcaller. Along the way, his offenses changed from fracture pace to a more conscious NFL style.