When Pete Carroll took over as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, many expected a quick turnaround rather than a lengthy rebuild. But midway through his first season as head coach, the 74-year-old coach finds himself in uncharted territory. For the first time in his NFL head coaching career, Carroll has fired his offensive coordinator during the middle of the season.
Raiders Will Pay Chip Kelly $500,000 Per Month Through 2027-28 Season
Carroll relieved Chip Kelly of his duties as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator on Sunday, following an ugly 24-10 loss versus the Cleveland Browns. In the offseason, Kelly left his OC role with the Ohio State Buckeyes after winning a national championship and immediately became the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the NFL. Kelly signed a three-year deal worth $6 million per year and will now receive the entirety of his contract without having to put together another gameplan.
That means Kelly will earn $11.42 per minute and $16,438 per day without coaching another game for the Raiders. Kelly’s weekly pay will be about $115,068 and he’ll earn roughly $500,000 per month through the 2027-28 season.
Unlike college football buyouts, Kelly’s contract isn’t offset by future employment. That means he will receive the full portion of his contract even if he lands a high-paying role in either college or the NFL.
Carroll Didn’t Have Much Of A Choice But To Fire Kelly
To be fair, Carroll didn’t have much of a choice in firing Kelly. The Raiders head coach said earlier this season that he has counted on Kelly’s “world of experience” but that plan ultimately fell flat.
The Raiders are tied for the worst scoring offense in the NFL at 15.0 points per game. They’ve scored fewer than 10 points in four games, the most in the NFL and quarterback Geno Smith is having one of the worst seasons as a starter. He ranks 32nd in QBR, 29th in passer rating, and is tied for the league-lead with 13 interceptions. Las Vegas also sits 30th in total yards per game (268.9) and 31st in rushing yards per game (79.5).
Greg Olson To Take Over As Raiders Offensive Coordinator
Carroll has turned to a familiar face to stabilize the offense, naming veteran coach Greg Olson as the interim offensive coordinator. Olson, who previously served multiple stints with the Raiders, last worked for the team in 2021 and was the quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023.
“He’s gonna be the playcaller, and we haven’t finalized the workings of anything past that at this point, but our guys are game-planning [for the Los Angeles Chargers], and we’re getting after it,” Carroll said.
“He knows me inside and out, and I think it’s fortunate that we have a guy [who] has that much background to step into this role.”
Whether Olson can spark meaningful improvement remains to be seen, but he steps into the role with credibility and a deep understanding of what has and hasn’t worked for Carroll in the past.
