Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll made a bold staffing move over the weekend by hiring Chip Kelly to be his offensive coordinator. Kelly is going to earn $6 million per season, becoming the highest-paid coordinator in NFL history, per widespread media reports. Carroll, the former Seattle Seahawks head coach, just showed a willingness to adjust his mindset.
Before hiring Kelly, Carroll was linked to hiring his former Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell as his coordinator and play-caller. Many Seahawks fans expected that move to transpire. Instead, Carroll shocked the footballing world by luring Kelly, Ohio State’s National Championship winning OC and QB coach, back to the NFL.
Raiders hiring Chip Kelly as new offensive coordinator. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/yklEQ3Ln2a
— NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2025
Throughout his successful, long-lasting tenure with the Seahawks, Carroll was often accused of playing old-school football. He was a defensive-minded coach (he’s a former DC and DB coach) who was accused of neglecting the offensive side of the ball. And certainly, Carroll sometimes settled for the status quo, showing loyalty to coaches like Bevell, even when it was clear their time had run its course.
Appointing Kelly, one of the more creative offensive minds in football, over Bevell, proves Carroll is willing to approach things differently in his tenure with the Raiders. The 73-year-old Carroll is willing to evolve. That makes following his upcoming stint with the Raiders particularly exciting for Seahawks fans.
