Pete Carroll Raiders’ Make Powerful Statement That Eclipses 4 NFL HCs After Hiring Ohio State’s Chip Kelly

Tom Brady‘s Raiders struggled in the 2024 season, finishing with an ugly 4-13 record. However, they have been making headlines ever since, subtly showcasing their preparations for the upcoming season. One major move was the hiring of Pete Carroll. But the Raiders didn’t stop there—they have now shocked at least four franchises with their next move.

The Raiders have hired the Ohio State Buckeyes coach Chip Kelly as their offensive quarterback. And his deal? Buckle up, it’s really going to shock you. The Raiders have signed Kelly for $6,000,000, which is higher than four head coaches in the NFL. 

Chip Kelly’s annual salary is higher than that of Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers $5 million), Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals $4.5 million), Mike McCarthy (former HC, Cowboys $4 million), and Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns $3.5 million). 

However, he is still not the best-paid coach. Talking about the highest-paid coaches, Andy Reid is at the top with $20 million, followed by Sean Payton ($18 million) and Mike Tomlin ($16 million). But what made Pete Carroll’s Raiders invest this much in him? Let’s dive in.

Chip Kelly back to the NFL after national championship

We saw how the Ohio State Buckeyes won their national championship after a decade. And the architect of the win? Coach Kelly. He was formerly a head coach in the NFL before joining UCLA (head coach) in 2018 and Ohio State University in 2024. For the Buckeyes, Kelly was an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Under his wings, the Buckeyes defeated top defenses in college football such as Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame, and finally won their 9th national championship. 

In the big leagues, he was part of the Philadelphia Eagles as head coach from 2013 to 2015. And was also a head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. So, hiring an experienced coach for the offense and who knows the NFL was crucial for the Raiders. The 61-year-old coach has not shared any take on social media regarding the new job. But one thing is clear, the next season is gonna be a great one for the Raiders. 

The new season is set to start on September 6, 2025, and Pete Carroll and the Raiders must be ready to flip the results of the 2024 NFL season. After hiring a new offensive coordinator, the Raiders now have three stalwarts, Tom Brady, Pete Carroll, and now Chip Kelly. Let’s see what happens in the upcoming season.