Kelly spoke to NFL insider Jay Glazer and said, “I am grateful for the opportunity with the Raiders, bottom line in this league you have to win. I really loved those players, I’m a huge, HUGE Geno Smith fan, that was one of the best parts of this experience for me, working with Geno and those guys every day. But hey, we gotta win. I get it.”

The Raiders offense is a bottom three unit in most categories, including yards, scoring, and rushing. Those are stats that will cost you a job, and even Kelly seems to know it judging him by his words.

Geno Smith has issues that might stem deeper from Kelly

Smith has regressed massively since leaving the Seahawks and Kelly is very responsible of it. But there is more, and the fact is that Pete Carroll must be responsible for it. Smith has had two problems: lack of protection and overall quarterback play. Well, both have a coincidence, Pete Carroll’s sons are working directly with him.

Brennan Carroll is the run game and offensive line coordinator. Needless to say, the running game is not working either, but the offensive line has been atrocious. The offensive line can’t protect Smith. Then, game management and assistant quarterbacks coach Nate Carroll, also Pete’s son, has also made his mark in a negative way when it comes to Smith’s form. Kelly was the head of offense, but the fact is, it might go deeper than that.

What’s next for the Raiders?

At least for now, the Raiders’ best interest is to actually lose games, because that will give them a higher draft pick for next year. But, the second most important thing is to get the right offensive coordinator. That will be key if this team wants any success in the Pete Carroll era.

When Carroll arrived, he promised this team would win a lot of games. After that, they have won just twice. So, the thing clearly is going sideways. If Carroll wants to save his job, he actually needs to nail the offensive coordinator hire.

The NFL‘s biggest offensive plays aren’t magic; they are the result of meticulous planning. Behind every successful touchdown drive is a strategic mastermind, a play-caller whose ingenuity can dictate the fate of a game and, ultimately, a season.

As the financial landscape of professional football evolves, the value placed on these offensive gurus has skyrocketed. Teams are no longer hesitant to invest in a visionary mind, recognizing that a truly dynamic offense is a priceless commodity.

The result of this financial shift is a new kind of list. It’s a ranking of the league’s most valued offensive masterminds, showing which play-callers are commanding the most lucrative deals in 2025.

NFL offensive coordinator salary rankings 2025

3. Mike Kafka – New York Giants ($3 million)

Mike Kafka represents the future of the NFL offense. As one of the youngest and highest-paid coordinators in the league, his $3 million annual salary is a bet on his limitless potential, as the Yahoo Sports reported.

Developed under the tutelage of the legendary Andy Reid in Kansas City, he has demonstrated a deep understanding of the passing game and a talent for crafting complex game plans.

Although the New York Giants‘ offense has had its ups and downs, his market value has grown exponentially due to his vision and leadership, with which he has tried to instill a modern, dynamic system in a challenging environment.

His contract not only places him among the current elite but also positions him as one of the top candidates for a future head coaching job, a sign that the NFL increasingly values young, promising minds.

2. Todd Monken – Baltimore Ravens ($3 million)

Todd Monken isn’t simply an offensive coordinator; he’s the architect behind one of the most unique and effective offenses in the league. His $3 million contract is a reward for his ability to maximize the talent of a quarterback as singular as Lamar Jackson, according to CBS Sports and Bleacher Report.

Under his guidance, the Baltimore Ravens have combined a strong running game with a creative passing scheme that has disoriented opposing defenses time and again. His value isn’t just measured in wins but in how he has polished the offense, making the transition from one style to another almost seamless.

His salary is a recognition of his undeniable tactical genius and the calm way he has handled one of the league’s most dynamic attacks, solidifying his role as a key part of the Ravens’ dynasty.

1. Chip Kelly – Las Vegas Raiders ($6 million)

Chip Kelly‘s hiring by the Raiders is one of the boldest bets of the year, and his $6 million annual salary confirms it, as ESPN and The Athletic reported. This isn’t just a contract; it’s the ultimate expression of confidence in a strategist whose legacy is marked by innovation and controversy.

Renowned for his revolutionary up-tempo, spread offense from his college days at Oregon, he returns to the NFL with Las Vegas Raiders on a mission to revitalize a franchise in search of an offensive identity.

His arrival represents a high-risk, massive-reward scenario, as his radical philosophy is capable of transforming an offense overnight or, conversely, failing spectacularly. It’s the most expensive decision a team has made to solve its offensive problems, and the NFL world will be watching his every move.

The Las Vegas Raiders are having a complete overhaul this offseason. Pete Carroll is the new head coach and with him, a new culture is brewing in Sin City. Carroll will have known faces in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and quarterback Geno Smith. Now, Kelly gave huge news for the Raiders’ fanbase regarding a rookie.

It seems like every year the NFL Scouting Combine makes a star. Rookies with not that much of a stock elevate themselves by showing their skills. Famously, D.K. Metcalf became an overnight sensation by his Combine performance. In 2025, it was wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. who maximized his time in front of the scouts.

The Tennessee alumn posted absurd numbers like a 4.3 40-yard dash time. When you combine that with his huge 6-foot-5 frame, Thornton is sort of a unicorn in the NFL. That tempted the Raiders, who drafted him in the fourth round despite little to no college production.

Kelly said to Raiders.com the following, “I think Dont’e is unique in terms of he’s just a hair under 6-5 and he ran 4.3. There’s not a lot of humans on this planet that do that.” Kelly then added, “And I think if you had a draw up an outside receiver, you would pick that type of body type, someone that’s got length, someone that’s got a huge catch radius, but also has speed.”

Dont’e Thornton must exploit his physical talents

His physical attributes are the mere reason the Raiders drafted Thornton. He played four years in college, with both Tennessee and Oregon. However, his stats are not stellar. He never surpassed more than 661 yards in a season, he scored 10 touchdowns in his total college career and has only 65 catches.

Geno Smith knows how to exploit physically superior receivers. The QB had the aforementioned D.K. Metcalf as a teammate in Seattle. Now, he will see Thornton as a great weapon if the rookie can develop into a good target.

There is another rookie ready to make waves for the Raiders

Of course, there is one rookie who everybody predicts will produce like crazy in the league. That is running back Ashton Jeanty. He was selected 6th overall by Las Vegas and his talent might put him as a top back in the NFL instantly.

Jeanty will have to share snaps with veteran Raheem Mostert at first, but the feeling is he will develop into a workhorse eventually. His speed and explosiveness are too good to divide snaps.

Chip Kelly, who won the national championship with the Buckeyes as the team’s offensive coordinator, has officially accepted an offer to join Pete Carroll’s staff with the Las Vegas Raiders. This move marks a significant step in his career as he returns to the NFL after a six-year hiatus.

The news was reported by NFL insider Adam Schefter, who took to his X (formerly Twitter) account @AdamSchefter to break the story of Chip Kelly‘s career move, confirming that he will join the Las Vegas Raiders starting next season.

“Back to the NFL: Former Eagles HC Chip Kelly is being hired as the Raiders offensive coordinator, per me and @PeteThamel,” the reporter stated.

Jeremiah Smith reacts to Kelly’s departure

Smith’s reaction to Kelly’s departure has been one of both surprise and respect. As a key part of the coaching staff, Kelly’s move to the NFL will undoubtedly be felt, but the wide receiver acknowledges the opportunity for Kelly and understands the professional growth that comes with returning to the highest level of football.

One of the program’s top prospects took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account @Jermiah_Smith1 to post a heartfelt message reflecting his feelings on the news that has shaken the Buckeyes.

Carroll shares his thoughts about new staff additions

Carroll’s arrival to Las Vegas sparks excitement within the franchise. In recent comments published on espn.com, the former Seahawks coach outlined his expectations for his new staff this season.

“I’m really looking for people that have been with me, that understand the philosophy to some extent,” Carroll said at the time. “I [also] want guys that have never been around me before so they have to learn what we’re all about and we can watch the process of them learning what we’re all about and what we expect. And then I’m hoping that we can maintain some of the terrific coaches that are on the staff, too, so we can have the benefit of the insights that they bring and the continuity that they can generate for us.

“We want ball people. We want guys that love the game…also, it’s important to find people that can help us grow and challenge us and — I know in my history — I need people to keep me on track. As you can tell, I get pretty juiced up and I’m going to get going. I need people to keep me balanced.”

According to a report from Albert Breer, during Kelly’s interview with the Raiders, he was informed that the team would receive a significant financial boost from new owners Carol and Mark Davis, allowing them to offer him a lucrative salary.

Kelly’s salary is reportedly around $6 million, making him the highest-paid coordinator in the league. Despite just arriving for his first season in Las Vegas, he now holds the top salary among all NFL coordinators.

This isn’t Kelly’s first stint in the NFL. He first joined the league as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2015 and held a similar position with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. After that, he worked with college programs from 2018 until 2024, when he won the CFP National Championship with Ohio.

Todd Monken Now Behind Kelly

In the latest report on NFL coordinator salaries, Todd Monken and Mike Kafka were the highest-paid in 2024, with salaries of $3 million per season. But now, Kelly stands alone in the top spot, with others like the Bills’ Joe Brady not even earning half of what he will make per year.

The Raiders’ Struggling Offense

Kelly’s job will be challenging and comprehensive, as the Raiders were stuck at the bottom of the rankings last season, averaging just 18.2 points per game. At least they have some young, talented players on the roster like Brock Bowers, Sincere McCormick, and Tre Tucker.

The Buckeyes’ offense, led primarily by Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith, was undoubtedly one of the most solid and explosive throughout the College Football season. According to the head coach, the addition of Kelly as offensive coordinator was key to the development of their game.

“Very excited to see, you know, a big smile on his face after the game,” Day said to the press of Kelly, once the game concluded. “You know, for him to come and leave the head coaching position, to come work with me meant a lot, because he’s obviously someone who’s a mentor to me, and certainly would not be where I am without him, and he has just a great feel for the game. He really helped me this year (and I) spent more time outside of the quarterback room.

“Certainly I was involved very much with the offense, but it allowed me to spread out a little bit and spend more time with the guys on defense, again, not as much as I’d like to, but still enough to just bounce in and out. And I think it brought us all together.”

Ryan Day thanks the entire team for their hard work

Often, when a team wins a title, the head coach becomes the face of the victory. In this case, Ryan Day didn’t want to miss the opportunity to thank the entire team’s efforts within the program, after having an outstanding season and capping it off with a title following their victory over Notre Dame.

“And I think the guys would agree and wouldn’t have got that done without Chip (Kelly). But I also want to just make sure that I recognize the guys on offense, you know, the offensive staff, I think will will tell you between Brian Hartline, Justin Fry, Kenan Bailey, Billy Fessler, you know, Carlos Laughlin, you know, go through all the different guys in that room. We got a great staff in there. And I thought, again, they came up with a great game plan, but they work at it. I mean, work their tails off at this thing. And, you know, it really showed itself … When you get in the playoffs …

“It becomes almost what I feel, almost more like the NFL. You got to wipe the slate clean, and you got to, you got to put a whole new game plan together in about 10 days, and you got to go put it on the field. And hats off to our coaches.”

A key player stays with the Buckeyes for the upcoming season

Looking ahead to what’s next, the Ohio State Buckeyes are starting to plan for the start of the next season, with the main goal of defending the title they won just a few days ago. The good news for Ryan Day is that one of his key players has confirmed his return for the upcoming season.

According to College Football reporter Pete Thamel, via his X account, cornerback Davison Igbinosun will be under Ryan Day’s command once again, as he won’t enter the NFL Draft.

“Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun will return to Ohio State in 2025, he told ESPN. He did not file paperwork to enter the NFL Draft, which was due today for OSU/Notre Dame players. “I’m coming back to school to be a first-round draft pick,” he told ESPN,” Thamel stated.

In a recent conversation with the press, Kelly expressed the mindset of his players ahead of this crucial matchup: “I think our players are intrinsically motivated to be successful and they have one goal and that’s to win the whole thing,” the OC said. “And the only way you can win the whole thing is to win game two. So that’s been their attention since the Tennessee game was over. It’s been, ‘What do we got to do next?’”

“I think every game is different, so I think you don’t look at it and say, ‘Hey, we did this against Tennessee, so we’ll do this against our next opponent,'” Kelly said. “I think it’s always the matchups and the individual matchups, our O-line versus their D-line, which I think is one of the best D-lines in the country. I think Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell inside (are good) – and they’ll have Jordan Burch back. Burch didn’t play against us in the first game, so what impact will he have as an edge player? Because he’s a really, really good football player.”

After the loss in the regular season, Kelly knows they cannot afford to make the same mistakes if they want to defeat Dan Lanning‘s team: “You go through that game and go through plays and what you were doing, and we got into a little bit more of a throw situation a couple times there. We had a backed-up situation coming out and moved the ball pretty well out of that, but then missed on a key third down. That one had a bad snap and didn’t handle it very well.”

“You get to play a team twice. That’s rare in college football that you get to play a team twice. You’ve got a game against them, and they also have a game against you, so they’re looking at the same exact thing,” Kelly finally concluded.

Kelly is well aware of the talent that the Ducks possess

The matchup between the Buckeyes and Ducks will likely be decided by the smallest of details, as the talent on both teams makes it clear that there is no clear favorite for this game. Kelly has thoroughly studied his opponent and knows that in order to defeat them, his team will need to give their all in Pasadena.

“I think it’s all your attention is on, obviously, they’re the No. 1 seed that you’re playing,” Kelly said. “And they’re the No. 1 seed for a reason. They’re the only undefeated team in college football. So, that gets your attention right away, so you don’t have to muster up any type of other motivation in terms of what people say about us. It’s a really good football team. Turn on the tape, and they’re going to challenge us. And our guys are really excited about that challenge.“

Nick Saban makes one thing clear about Ryan Day’s team

Nick Saban is a legend in College Football and understands the significance of these kinds of games. Now as an analyst, he made his stance clear on what Ryan Day‘s Buckeyes are capable of achieving.

“They have an opportunity to win the national championship,” Saban said. “Everybody ought to be supporting the hell out of them so that they have the best opportunity to do it and quit all this negative (expletive)”

Chip Kelly knows that the situation for some teams could get complicated in the coming years, as the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS seasons will have several changes from schools that moved to other conferences. This will be a key factor for the College Football Playoff.

Some conferences and schools will not see big changes until 2024, when they will have to travel long and short distances. UCLA will be one of the teams that will have to travel after their move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten next year.

All of those changes in the upcoming NCAA season were planned in 2021 and are supposed to be completed in 2024, at the end of the conference realignment.

What did Chip Kelly say about a CFB Championship?

In a recent interview with The Bald Faced Truth, Chip Kelly gave a clear opinion on how the conference realignment should be resolved. He said that the best thing would be to have two divisions with 64 teams each, and each division would play for a championship.

“Notre Dame is an independent in football, but they are in a conference for everything else. Why can’t we all be independent in football? We could have two divisions: one with the 64 teams in the Power Five conferences, and one with the 64 teams in the Group of Five conferences.”

He also referred to the issue of travel for the teams, saying that it was not a big deal for college football during the season. He said: “We play for a championship, they play for a championship and no one else gets affected. Our sport is different than everybody else – we only play once a week, travel’s not a big deal for football, but it is a big deal for other sports.”

Chip Kelly’s opinion is certainly an interesting one, and it is worth considering his proposal. It would certainly be a major change to the current system, but it could also make the College Football Playoff more competitive and exciting.