Chip Kelly‘s tenure as Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator ended following repeated errors in play calling during games, according to reports. The dismissal, finalized Wednesday, stems from a pattern of miscommunication and inaccurate play selection that reportedly placed quarterback Geno Smith in challenging situations.
The issues reportedly extended beyond simple miscommunications, with instances of Kelly calling plays not present in the established game plan or failing to properly signal pre-snap adjustments.This breakdown in execution contributed to the team’s offensive struggles and ultimately led to the decision to move in a new direction.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero detailed the problems,explaining that Kelly would “repeatedly botch the play calls,” such as forgetting to tag receiver motions. “There were times…where Geno Smith is at the line of scrimmage going, ‘This doesn’t look right’ and they’re trying to run a play,” Pelissero told Rich Eisen. He further stated Kelly, on “several occasions called a play that was either not in the game plan or not installed at all.”
Kelly, 62, previously served as head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, with each NFL possibility concluding unsuccessfully. While highly regarded for his collegiate coaching achievements, his repeated difficulties adapting to the professional level raise questions about his future in the NFL, potentially opening doors for a return to college football.
