Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has opened up about offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s sudden departure to the NFL, a move that came just weeks after the Buckeyes captured a national championship.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel first reported that Kelly would be leaving his role at Ohio State to take on the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders. The timing of the move raises eyebrows, as the Buckeyes are not only losing a key offensive mind but have also already seen defensive coordinator Jim Knowles depart for Penn State.
Day, who has worked closely with Kelly, addressed the situation during an appearance on The Joel Klatt Show. Instead of showing frustration, he reflected on their time together and acknowledged that Kelly’s move was something they had discussed beforehand.
“We talked about it, the fact that, you know, we had a really good group here,” Day said. “The dream would be to win a national championship, and then, you know, he decides whether he wants to stay, or have an opportunity to go to the NFL, and it’s exactly what happened.”
Kelly’s offense helped lead OSU to the title
Ohio State’s offense flourished under Kelly’s guidance, finishing the 2024 season among the nation’s best. The Buckeyes ranked 12th in points per game (35.7) and 28th in total yards per game (429.4), numbers that played a significant role in their title-winning run.
Now, with Kelly moving on, Day must quickly pivot to finding a new offensive coordinator. With Ohio State not kicking off its 2025 season until Aug. 30 against Texas, there is time to make a calculated hire. However, replacing someone of Kelly’s caliber won’t be an easy task, and all eyes will be on who steps in to fill the void.