Would Chip Kelly Be Right Choice For Seahawks Offensive Coordinator? - Locked On Podcast

Previously coaching the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, Chip Kelly could be coming back to the NFL to add experience and innovative ideas to the Seattle Seahawks offense. But would he be the right hire?

Corbin K. Smith | Feb 8, 2024

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Seattle Seahawks

Rumored as a potential candidate early in the coaching carousel before the franchise even hired a head coach, the Seattle Seahawks brought UCLA head coach and former NFL head coach Chip Kelly in for an interview for their vacant offensive coordinator position on Tuesday night.

Still one of the top offensive minds in the sport, Kelly has had immense success putting points on the board everywhere he has coached, including guiding the Eagles to a pair of top-five finishes in 2013 and 2014 and most recently leading the Bruins to top-15 scoring totals in 2021 and 2022. However, reception for his candidacy has been lukewarm at best from 12s, in part due to his past coaching Oregon and San Francisco, bitter rivals for Washington and Seattle at both levels.

Having failed as a head coach with two franchises, some fans aren't overly excited about hiring a retread to coordinate Seattle's offense and would prefer a first-time play caller with fresh ideas. But Kelly has always been an innovator on that side of the ball and his previous head coaching experience may be a major asset for new coach Mike Macdonald in the Pacific Northwest.

Chip Kelly to Seahawks Rumors Offer Plenty of Intrigue

Hosts Corbin Smith and Rob Rang examine Kelly's fit coming back to the league and whether or not his scheme would mesh with Geno Smith and Seattle's cast of skill players, dive into the latest reported candidate for defensive coordinator on Mike Macdonald's staff who offers some fun international flavor, and take a peek at standout quarterbacks from last week's Senior Bowl in Mobile.

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Published Feb 8, 2024

CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.