Chip Kelly’s voyage back to college football did not go as many had anticipated. The veteran head coach will serve as the offensive coordinator for a Big Ten team. However, the program’s location could be a surprise.
CFB Analyst Believes Chip Kelly Not Returning to Ohio State is Due to a Feud
Bobby Carpenter won a national championship with the Buckeyes as a linebacker and has remained close to the program. When Kelly accepted the job at Northwestern to serve as the offensive coordinator, a position opened up. However, Carpenter cites a specific reason for his decision.
“Ryan (Day) was asked about that, if there were consideration or thought with Chip Kelly. It was a very succinct, short answer. It was no. The fact that he didn’t elaborate on it means maybe there was some bad blood, or you know what, maybe it was time to move on.”
Without delving into details, Day’s response could provide answers. Day and Kelly share a relationship that dates back to Day’s time as a quarterback at the University of New Hampshire, where Kelly was his offensive coordinator. When Ohio State began its championship quest in 2024, Kelly served as Day’s offensive coordinator.
Then, in what many considered a surprise, he left Columbus to work for the Las Vegas Raiders as a coordinator under Pete Carroll. The organization dismissed Kelly after a 2-9 start to the season.
Carpenter’s comments raise questions about why Kelly did not return to Ohio State after Brian Hartline left for South Florida. Instead, he accepted the offensive coordinator position at Northwestern, which adds intrigue to the reasons behind his decision.
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Last season, Northwestern ranked No. 48 in PFSN’s CFB College Offense Impact Rankings. Kelly will inherit a team with both intriguing pieces and gaps to address. New quarterback Aidan Chiles, a transfer from Michigan State, takes over. He’ll team up in the backfield with Caleb Komolafe, who scored 11 touchdowns last year. However, Kelly must also manage the challenge of replacing four graduated starters on the offensive line.
Day and Kelly will face each other this season when Northwestern visits Ohio Stadium. The outcome may not be as one-sided as expected, given Kelly’s familiarity with Day’s defensive strategies and Ohio State’s personnel changes. This matchup could further highlight the impact of their complicated relationship.
Two years after winning a national title together, Kelly and Day now lead opposing teams. The dynamics of their professional relationship remain a central storyline as they prepare to meet on opposite sidelines.
