The Las Vegas Raiders, in the midst of restructuring their coaching staff under new head coach Pete Carroll, have brought in two veteran coaches to handle the offense. Chip Kelly has been hired as the Offensive Coordinator, and Greg Olson will take over as the quarterbacks coach. Both coaches bring extensive experience from both the NFL and championship-caliber college football.

Kelly, 61, has previously served as the head coach for the Eagles, 49ers, and the University of Oregon and UCLA. Most recently, Kelly was the Offensive Coordinator for the 2024 National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes. He joins a growing list of successful NCAA coaches making the jump to, or returning to, the NFL after National Championship bids, including Jim Harbaugh, Todd Monken, and Ryan Grubb. All three saw significant turnarounds with their new NFL teams in their first year, something that is a pressing need for owner Mark Davis, new GM John Spytek, and Carroll. Kelly has long been regarded as an innovative mind, and the tape from the Buckeyes’ 2024 season shows he hasn’t missed a step.

Olson returns to the Raiders for his third stint, having previously served as the Offensive Coordinator in Oakland. His last NFL stop was as quarterbacks coach in Seattle in 2023 under Carroll. While the Raiders’ plan at quarterback for 2025 remains uncertain—given the upcoming free agency period and NFL Draft—the team must be confident that regardless of whether they sign a free agent, draft a quarterback in an early round, or proceed with Aidan O’Connell, the offense will be in knowledgeable hands.

Kelly’s reputation is built on increasing the speed and efficiency of the offense, which has implications for fantasy players like tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Bowers, already considered TE1, will likely continue to play a major role in the offense. Meanwhile, Meyers, who thrived in 2024, is expected to return to a slot role, where he is best suited. Bowers has already established himself as one of the best rookie receivers in history, and Meyers will look to build on his breakout season. The Raiders will need to add a true “alpha” receiver to fill the role once occupied by Davante Adams before he was traded to the New York Jets. The futures of the quarterbacks and running backs, including Zamir White and Alexander Mattison, remain uncertain.

Writer: Brendon Booth (@bigbonededFFB)