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CHICAGO – Chip Kelly had a lackluster NFL stint in 2025, but Northwestern's players know what their new offensive coordinator is capable of at the college level.
"I got a call from [Northwestern coach David Braun]. He said that Chip Kelly was the new OC, and I was shocked," said Northwestern running back Caleb Komolafe at Big Ten Media Day on July 30. "It was just a surreal feeling. Like the Chip Kelly, it's crazy."
Kelly officially joined the Wildcats in December, marking his return to Big Ten football less than a year after leaving Ohio State to become the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive coordinator. The Raiders went 2-9 and were ranked last in the league in scoring throughout Kelly's tenure, which ended before the regular season was over.
However, Kelly's previous experience as a head coach in the NFL and Big Ten, along with his success at Ohio State as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the national championship run in 2024, has Northwestern excited about the 62-year-old taking over the offense.
"Ultimately, I felt like Northwestern's offense needed a transformative change," Northwestern coach David Braun said. "And my goodness, is hiring Chip Kelly a transformative change. It's his experience, it's his outside-the-box thinking, it's his understanding of how we can position our guys to suit their strengths within the offense."
The Buckeyes' offense averaged 35.7 points and 429.4 yards, 166.38 off rushing, per game under Kelly, which all ranked OSU in the top four of the Big Ten.
Northwestern finished the 2025 season tied for 10th in the Big Ten standings, going 7-6. The Wildcats were 14th in the league in scoring (23.4 points per game) and eighth in rushing yards (160.15 per game). Komolafe ranked eighth among Big Ten running backs with 941 yards through 12 games.
"I was studying [Kelly's running backs], unknowingly," Komolafe said. "Looking at Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and what they did in 2024 ... I'm just looking and picking things up from those guys, because they played in this offense."
More: Ohio State football coach Ryan Day reflects on son's Northwestern commitment
Ohio State will host Kelly and the Wildcats on Nov. 14 in their first meeting since 2024, when the Buckeyes recorded a 31-7 win.
[email protected]
@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Can Chip Kelly become a top OC in Big Ten again? Why Northwestern thinks so
Continue reading...
"I got a call from [Northwestern coach David Braun]. He said that Chip Kelly was the new OC, and I was shocked," said Northwestern running back Caleb Komolafe at Big Ten Media Day on July 30. "It was just a surreal feeling. Like the Chip Kelly, it's crazy."
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Kelly officially joined the Wildcats in December, marking his return to Big Ten football less than a year after leaving Ohio State to become the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive coordinator. The Raiders went 2-9 and were ranked last in the league in scoring throughout Kelly's tenure, which ended before the regular season was over.
However, Kelly's previous experience as a head coach in the NFL and Big Ten, along with his success at Ohio State as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the national championship run in 2024, has Northwestern excited about the 62-year-old taking over the offense.
"Ultimately, I felt like Northwestern's offense needed a transformative change," Northwestern coach David Braun said. "And my goodness, is hiring Chip Kelly a transformative change. It's his experience, it's his outside-the-box thinking, it's his understanding of how we can position our guys to suit their strengths within the offense."
The Buckeyes' offense averaged 35.7 points and 429.4 yards, 166.38 off rushing, per game under Kelly, which all ranked OSU in the top four of the Big Ten.
Northwestern finished the 2025 season tied for 10th in the Big Ten standings, going 7-6. The Wildcats were 14th in the league in scoring (23.4 points per game) and eighth in rushing yards (160.15 per game). Komolafe ranked eighth among Big Ten running backs with 941 yards through 12 games.
"I was studying [Kelly's running backs], unknowingly," Komolafe said. "Looking at Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and what they did in 2024 ... I'm just looking and picking things up from those guys, because they played in this offense."
More: Ohio State football coach Ryan Day reflects on son's Northwestern commitment
Ohio State will host Kelly and the Wildcats on Nov. 14 in their first meeting since 2024, when the Buckeyes recorded a 31-7 win.
[email protected]
@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Can Chip Kelly become a top OC in Big Ten again? Why Northwestern thinks so
Continue reading...
