The Las Vegas Raiders parted ways with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after just 11 games in the Pete Carroll era, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided more insight into what unfolded behind the scenes before his tenure ended.
According to Rapoport, Kelly expressed “frustration” with how “heavy-handed” the first-year Raider head coach was with the offense.
“NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported this past week on The Rich Eisen Show that Kelly sometimes botched his own play calls and, on several occasions, called plays that weren’t in the game plan,” Rapoport wrote.
“That’s a rarity in the NFL. Kelly, a 62-year-old who has run his own offense countless times, also was miffed at how heavy-handed Carroll was with what he wanted to run, and how he wanted it run. Sources say Kelly expressed frustration about the setup.”
The 2-9 Raiders ranked 31st in scoring at 15.0 points per game before Kelly was relieved of his duties.
Kelly reportedly signed a contract at $6 million per year to become the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator. However, he reportedly wasn’t running his own offense, according to Rapoport. In fact, the offense apparently resembled the offense that Carroll oversaw during his final year as the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach in 2023:
“Based on the views of those who studied the offense and based on those who game-planned against it this season, they don’t believe Kelly was running his own offense at all. It was unlike anything Kelly previously had run.
“In fact, defensive coordinators likened the Raiders offense this season more to Shane Waldron’s offense with the Seahawks in 2023, Carroll’s last year with Seattle. Kelly’s trademark creative runs out of shotgun had been dramatically limited. Instead, the blend of Seattle and Las Vegas schemes tilted far more toward the under-center zone scheme Carroll favors.
“One previous opponent even had their scout team prepare cards based on Seattle plays of the past under Carroll, sources say.”
Regardless of what happened behind the scenes, the results were clearly subpar. Kelly’s tenure ultimately ended with an ugly 24-10 home loss to the 3-9 Cleveland Browns.
It’s been a disappointing season in Las Vegas, which had plenty of optimism before this year. After a year away from the sidelines, Carroll became the Raiders’ coach following a storied tenure with Seattle (137-89-1 record, 10 playoff appearances in 14 years, two NFC titles and one Super Bowl win).
The Raiders traded for Seattle quarterback Geno Smith, who enjoyed a career renaissance with the Seahawks. Las Vegas also added running back Ashton Jeanty in the draft among other notable offseason acquisitions.
Kelly was among those additions, but he’s out of town now, and the Raiders are left to figure out what direction they’ll go under Carroll’s leadership.
