Raiders fire NFL’s highest-paid coordinator Chip Kelly after another disastrous performance: reports
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After another lackluster offensive performance, the Las Vegas Raiders have fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, according to multiple reports.
This is the second coordinator fired by the Raiders in the last three weeks, as special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was relieved of his duties following a 10-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Nov. 6.
Las Vegas put a big emphasis on improving its offense this offseason, and the addition of Kelly made him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL with a deal worth an average of $6 million per season.
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Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and head coach Pete Carroll of the Las Vegas Raiders before the 2025 NFL preseason game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 7, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Kelly was hired by the Raiders after winning a national title with Ohio State and returned to the NFL to join Pete Carroll, who came out of retirement to coach in Las Vegas.
But after adding veteran quarterback Geno Smith in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks and using their first-round pick on running back Ashton Jeanty, the offense simply hasn’t performed well enough.
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Owner Mark Davis and the rest of the organization decided it was time to let Kelly go before the end of his first season with the franchise.
Kelly’s firing came after the Raiders’ 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns the previous Sunday. Smith threw for 285 yards on 30-of-44 passing with a touchdown to Jeanty. The Raiders have scored 16 points or fewer in four of their last five games, all of which ended in losses.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is on the field before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Entering Sunday’s game, the Raiders ranked third-worst in yards per game (269) and points per game (15.5). Carroll also might not have been satisfied with Jeanty and the running game, which managed just 81.4 yards per game despite investing in a first-round pick at running back.
The Raiders’ offensive line has been a problem all season, with Smith being sacked 31 times entering the game against Cleveland. The Browns left Allegiant Stadium on Sunday with 10 sacks. Only Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick, has been sacked more times this season with 45.
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It is unknown who will handle the Raiders’ offensive duties for the remainder of the season. But at 2-9, it’s been an unfortunate start to Carroll’s comeback, a season that was supposed to rejuvenate the franchise.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for News Digital.