Chip Kelly Leaving UCLA to Become Ohio State Offensive Coordinator, Per Report

Kelly takes a demotion in one of the bigger coaching moves this offseason.

Another one of college football's biggest jobs just opened up.

After spending the last six seasons in Westwood, Chip Kelly is leaving UCLA to become the next offensive coordinator at Ohio State. The move was first reported by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic on Friday afternoon. 

BREAKING: UCLA’s Chip Kelly is expected to become the new OC at Ohio State, per source. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day played for Kelly at UNH and later coached with him at three stops. https://t.co/PDDOB76rDq

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 9, 2024

Ohio State had previously hired Bill O'Brien, who spent the 2023 season with the New England Patriots, to become the team's next offensive coordinator. 

However he was hired as the new head coach in Boston College after Jeff Hafley took the defensive coordinator job with the Green Bay Packers. 

Kelly, 60, went 35-34 during his six years leading the Bruins. He won no less than eight games in each of the past three seasons, finishing 2023 with an 8-5 record. The former Oregon head coach will now remain in the new-look Big Ten conference and he'll coach against the Ducks when the Buckeyes travel to Eugene for a October 12 showdown.

Ohio State has had an eventful offseason to say the least, signing the No. 5 ranked 2024 recruiting class (per 247Sports Composite rankings), headlined by the No. 1 player in the country, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Ryan Day and company have also added talent from the transfer portal, bringing in big names like former Alabama safety Caleb Downs, former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins and former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard to name a few.

The Buckeyes also added former Alabama early enrollee quarterback Julian Sayin, a five-star quarterback in the 2024 class from Carlsbad, California. Ryan Day has had a Michigan problem the past three years, with the Wolverines rattling off three straight wins against the Buckeyes and capturing their first national title since 1997. 

Adding one of the brightest offensive minds in college football in Chip Kelly could help them get over that hurdle.

With Dan Lanning and the Ducks continue to reload with talent, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, this year's matchup with the Buckeyes just got much more exciting. 

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