Getty Image / Tom Hauck
On Wednesday, Boston College Head Coach Jeff Hafley shocked many when he left his gig as a head coach in the ACC to be an NFL defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.
A sitting Power Five head coach leaving for an NFL coordinator gig is pretty unprecedented in recent years. But, with the college game changing significantly in terms of what coaches have to worry about day-to-day.
Now, reports are that UCLA Head Coach Chip Kelly could be the next coach to leave for an NFL coordinator gig.
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly is a potential candidate for #Commanders OC under new head coach Dan Quinn, per sources. Kelly, a two-time NFL head coach, is believed to have interest in returning to the league and Washington will consider talking with him.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 2, 2024
Not only is Chip Kelly a Power Five head coach, but he will be a Big Ten head coach this time next year. Presumably, college head coaches shouldn’t be leaving the conference that has the most financial resources for an NFL offensive coordinator job.
But, the life of a college head coach is a nightmare these days. So little of the job is about coaching football compared to what it used to be, and surely college coaches with other options have to be getting tired of it.
The immediate eligibility of transfers combined with players being able to earn money on their Name, Image and Likeness means that there is essentially free agency for every player after every season. Having to re-recruit your entire roster, budget for them, while factoring in high school recruiting as well, means there just isn’t a lot of time to actually coach football.
Some coaches love a program CEO role like that. But, for a guy like Chip Kelly, he just wants to actually coach football, and he’s not doing a lot of that right now. Add in the fact that he’s likely on the hot seat, and it’s pretty clear as to why he wants out.
Joining the Commanders under newly-hired head coach Dan Quinn would give him a few years of job security to install an offense, possibly with a highly-touted rookie quarterback the team could select in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Kelly was also strongly considered for the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator position, but that ultimately went to Kliff Kingsbury.
The #Raiders interviewed #UCLA coach Chip Kelly at least twice for their vacant OC job under Antonio Pierce, sources say. Kelly appeared open to a return to the NFL… but Pierce ultimate chose Kliff Kingsbury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 2, 2024
Expect more college football coaches to explore moves like this until college football undergoes some changes to make it easier on coaches.