Raiders Today

One Nightmare Scenario For Raiders Entering 2025

The Las Vegas Raiders' success may lead to new opportunities for one of their coaching staff members.
Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly (left) with head coach Pete Carroll against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly (left) with head coach Pete Carroll against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In this story:


The potential for the 2025 Las Vegas Raiders is potent, with them being a dark-horse team to contend for a wild spot in the playoffs. This will be their first year under new head coach Pete Carroll, and he brings with him a winning culture wherever he goes.

Nobody really knows what's in store for the Raiders next season, because there are so many variables to consider. Ashton Jeanty was a phenom during college, but is his preseason tape an indicator of what's to come?

Geno Smith is undoubtedly the best quarterback they've had in years, but is he enough of a talent upgrade to contend with some of the upper echelon of teams in the NFL? Will their incoming rookies be able to play right away, or will they have learning pains?

Bold Prediction

Chip Kell
Jul 24, 2025; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly during training camp press conference at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

While we won't know the answers to these questions until late in the season, it's never too early to make some bold predictions. ESPN released its team previews, and for the Raiders, their bold prediction for next season will be that the Raiders' success will lead to Chip Kelly becoming a head coach.

"Kelly will be an NFL head coach in 2026. OK, technically that isn't a bold prediction for 2025, but there's no way Kelly will land another head coaching job unless his Raiders offense in 2025 does well. Once it does, owners will zoom out and look at that, his success at Ohio State, his time as UCLA's head coach and parts of his previous NFL tenure and think: That's a pretty good résumé!"

This bold prediction stems from the fact that Kelly is coming back into the NFL after winning a championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes. If he shows that his stellar offensive scheme and dominance on the ground can translate to the NFL, there are a bunch of teams that'd be interested in having him as their next head coach.

If this were to happen, this would be a blow to the Raiders and the continuity of their coaching staff, as this prediction is based on the idea that he'd be wildly successful in 2025. However, if he were to be successful enough to land a head coaching job, I'd feel that some of that credit was to come from the excellence of Jeanty.

It's called a bold prediction for a reason, and while I believe this is unlikely to happen, I do believe the Raiders will find a lot of success on the ground thanks to Jeanty and Kelly's scheme.

Follow us today on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr and find all of our daily content.

Go visit our Facebook page to let us know your thoughts on Kelly WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.


Published
Fernando Alfaro-Donis
FERNANDO ALFARO-DONIS

Fernando Alfaro-Donis found his passion for sports playing high school football, which led him to pursue journalism as an English major at UCLA. He also covers the UCLA Bruins and the Los Angeles Rams as an On SI team reporter.