Northwestern’s offense has been stuck in neutral for far too long, and David Braun knows it. The Wildcats limped through the regular season, averaging just 22.5 points per game. They finished dead last in the Big Ten in scoring. With the new Ryan Field set to open next season, the Wildcats needed an offensive identity that matched their shiny new stadium, and Braun just delivered it.​

Northwestern announced on Tuesday that it’s hiring Chip Kelly as its new offensive coordinator. They bring in one of the most innovative offensive minds in football history. Kelly most recently served as offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders before being fired on November 23, following the team’s 2-9 record and the NFL’s worst-scoring offense.

But before that disaster in Vegas, Kelly orchestrated one of college football’s most explosive attacks at Ohio State in 2024. He helped the Buckeyes capture the national championship with an offense that averaged 35.7 points per game and 429.4 yards per game.

Kelly brings 35 years of experience across the NFL and college ranks, including legendary runs as head coach at Oregon (46-7 record, three straight conference titles) and stints at UCLA, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. He replaces Zach Lujan, whose contract is expiring after the season.​

Braun couldn’t contain his excitement when introducing Kelly to the Northwestern community. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Chip and his wife, Jill, to our university, Braun said in the official announcement.

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His innovative approach to offense using systems that focus on varying tempo, efficiency, and smart decision-making, his track record of developing quarterbacks, and his ability to maximize talent are exactly what our program needs at this moment.” 

Braun emphasized the significance of landing someone with Kelly’s resume. He called it a transformational moment for the program. “I am extremely grateful for the ongoing partnership of our university, Mark Jackson and passionate supporters to make this addition happen,” he continued.

“Make no mistake: this is a program-defining change and is reflective of our long-term commitment to the pursuit of championships.”​

Kelly, for his part, seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity to rebuild at Northwestern rather than chasing another high-profile gig. “I am honored to join the Northwestern Football program,” Kelly said. “This program and university are clearly on the rise, and the values of the people and this place align with my own. I am grateful for the opportunity.” 

This is a massive get for Northwestern, even if Kelly’s recent NFL failure raises some eyebrows. The reality is that Kelly has always thrived in college football, where his up-tempo, multiple-look offensive system has consistently produced elite results. Whether he can replicate his success at Ohio State remains to be seen.

But the Big Ten just got a lot more interesting with Chip Kelly back in the mix.​

Northwestern’s investment in championship-level football

Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson didn’t mince words when describing what the Chip Kelly hire means for the program’s trajectory.

“This is a seminal moment for our program under David Braun’s direction and another indication that we are prepared to pursue the highest standard of excellence in all that we do,” Jackson said in his statement announcing the hire. 

That’s some pretty bold language from an athletic director at a school that’s historically been more focused on academics than football dominance. However, Jackson’s comments signal something more significant. Northwestern is done playing small ball in the Big Ten.

The investment in Kelly demonstrates that the university is willing to support Braun’s vision with tangible resources. Jackson praised the student-athletes’ exceptional performance both academically and competitively. He noted that Northwestern maintains “one of the strongest retention rates in the country, due to Coach Braun’s leadership and the culture he has established.”

With the new Ryan Field set to open next season, Northwestern needed to make a statement hire that would signal to recruits that the Wildcats are serious about competing in the Big Ten Conference. They want to win, and they’re betting that Kelly’s innovative offensive system can help them achieve that goal.