Ryan Day’s reaction to Chip Kelly being named the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator reflects a mixture of pride and nostalgia. While Ohio State has faced the challenges that come with winning a national championship, Day is genuinely excited for Kelly’s new chapter in the NFL.
Chip Kelly has made headlines by returning to professional football, securing a lucrative deal that positions him as the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL, with an impressive salary of $6 million per year, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
The announcement of Kelly’s move to join Pete Carroll’s coaching staff surfaced during Day’s interview on the “Joel Klatt Show.” Despite the loss of another key assistant, Day took the opportunity to praise his mentor and friend.
“It was great,” Day remarked about the journey to winning a national championship alongside Kelly. “We talked about it, the fact that we had a really good group here. The dream would be to win a national championship and then he decides whether he wants to stay or have an opportunity to go to the NFL. And it’s exactly what happened.”
Kelly’s decision to leave his position as head coach at UCLA to join Ohio State’s staff in the 2024 offseason was a significant move. Day, who had been calling plays for the Buckeyes for five seasons, chose to hand over those responsibilities to Bill O’Brien earlier in the offseason. Unfortunately, O’Brien’s tenure was short-lived, as he soon accepted the head coaching position at Boston College.
This strategic change proved beneficial for Ohio State. Under Kelly’s leadership, the Buckeyes boasted one of the nation’s most formidable offenses, finishing 14th in scoring and 4th in yards per play.
Kelly’s expertise was particularly evident during the College Football Playoff (CFP), where Ohio State established early leads in three out of four games. Their standout performances included a decisive victory over No. 1 Oregon in the quarterfinals and a championship win against Notre Dame. Thanks to Kelly’s innovative game plans, the Buckeyes averaged around 36 points and 447 yards of offense in their four CFP matchups, with key contributions from players like Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, and Quinshon Judkins.
The success of Ohio State’s offense in the CFP was a pivotal factor in securing their national championship title, fulfilling a long-held dream for both Day and Kelly. Their shared history dates back to when Day played quarterback in Kelly’s offense at New Hampshire from 1998 to 2001.
Now, Day takes immense pride in the fact that he and Kelly, both hailing from New Hampshire, can finally call themselves national champions.
“Just to be able to have a beer in a few years and talk about the year that we had together is going to be special because we all started together, and this is where I started with him,” Day said. “We went and did that. And what a great story. I know so many people back home in New Hampshire are just excited for him and for the story. It’s pretty special.”
