Charger Report

Jim Harbaugh vs. Pete Carroll gets more surprising layers as Raiders hire Chip Kelly

The Las Vegas Raiders have made Chip Kelly the highest paid offensive coordinator in NFL, hoping he'll help them blow past the Chargers and Chiefs and win the AFC West.
Brian Letscher|
Former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly leads warm ups prior to the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff on Jan. 10, 2025.
Former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly leads warm ups prior to the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff on Jan. 10, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In this story:

Los Angeles ChargersLas Vegas Raiders

First Pete Carroll, now Chip Kelly. The anticipated rivalry between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Raiders continues to grow with each new hire that Las Vegas announces.

The Chiefs certainly rule the roost at the moment but Jim Harbaugh's Chargers made a remarkable turnaround this season, flipping last season's 5-12 record to 11-6, good enough for second place in the division and a playoff berth.

A classic Harbaugh turnaround, similar to when he was at Stanford, a remarkable rise that included beating Carroll's No. 1 ranked USC Trojans in 2007 in one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

Enter Chip Kelly. Kelly and Harbaugh also go way back to their Pac-10 days with Kelly coordinating the offense for an Oregon team that handed Harbaugh's Stanford squad it's only loss of the 2010 season, a game in which the Ducks stormed back from a 21-3 deficit to win 52-31.

Now Kelly will call the plays for Carroll. Against Harbaugh. With Kelly having just finished in the same capacity for the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes who are, of course, the arch-rivals of the Michigan Wolverines, the school for which Harbaugh played and, of course, led to a national championship just a year ago. After beating Ohio State three years in a row.

Jim Harbaugh
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh lifts up the trophy as players and coaches celebrate after 34-13 win over Washington to win the national championship game, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

But, wait, we're not done. Ohio State's big loss this season, one that had fans calling for Kelly's head? Yep, Michigan. A game in which Kelly's offense only produced 10 points, including getting shut out in the second half.

Chip Kelly
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As that weren't enough, the Raiders made Kelly the highest-paid paid OC in the NFL with a contract worth $6 million per year. That's more than Texans head coach Demeco Ryans is paid. How is Las Vegas able to pay so much to a coordinator? Well, they recently had a large infusion of cash from new owners. New owners led by a Mr. Tom Brady. Seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady. The Tom Brady who went to college where? All together now...Michigan.

More Los Angeles Chargers News:

Chargers could land Jets' breakout tackling machine

Chargers have huge decision to make regarding 2022 first-round pick

Chargers acquire superstar WR in colossal trade proposal

Myles Garrett trade request: Chargers fans demand LA pick up the phone

Chargers can circle this date on calendar about possible Myles Garrett trade

Chargers should run to the phone if Texans want to do this proposed trade

Published
Brian Letscher
BRIAN LETSCHER

A Michigan native, Brian graduated from the University of Michigan in another century, where he earned a degree in economics and a Rose Bowl Championship ring while playing football for the Wolverines under Head Coach Gary Moeller. Brian went on to coach Division 1A football for several years before becoming a full-time writer and actor while maintaining an unhealthy interest in sports. He is currently developing a scripted television series, THOSE WHO STAY, based on a series of historical fiction articles he wrote about Bo Schembechler's Michigan football program as they struggle to unite and win the championship - which requires beating #1 Ohio State - during the tumultuous civil rights and anti-war movements of 1969.

Home/Los Angeles Chargers Latest News