The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t just fire an offensive coordinator; they tore up one of the most expensive contracts in NFL assistant coaching history. On Sunday, just after 11 games with a 2-9 start, Chip Kelly was asked to leave, and this firing comes with a historic price tag attached to the coach.

News broke via ESPN’s Adam Schefter after Las Vegas’ offense imploded once again on the field. But with his short time in the books, the attention turned to his contract, a jaw-dropping $6 million-per-year deal that set records across the league for an assistant coach.

Sources: Chip Kelly is out as the Raiders offensive coordinator. pic.twitter.com/n8XcqIPOl4

(@AdamSchefter) November 24, 2025

Kelly, whom Carroll hired in February, brought a creative offensive background into what was supposed to be a modernized Las Vegas unit. Instead, the offense sharply regressed, leaving the Raiders with the costly decision of whether to cut ties early or let the season spiral.

When the Raiders pulled Kelly away from Ohio State, it wasn’t just a coaching hire; it was a financial flex. They nearly tripled the $2.1 million he was set to earn there in 2025.

The blockbuster deal was structured to ensure Kelly received top-tier compensation regardless of performance, making Sunday’s firing a major financial hit. Though exact buyout terms were not made public, contracts for NFL coordinators often contain multi-year guarantees; therefore, the Raiders will face financial repercussions.

That high-dollar investment never translated into production. The Raiders put up just 3.6 yards per play in their Week 12, 24-10, loss to the Browns.

“If you don’t score, you can’t win, and we couldn’t score,” said Pete Carroll.

Kelly is the second coordinator to be let go by the Raiders this month, with special teams coordinator Tom McMahon being fired earlier in the month. While his time in Las Vegas ended a bit unexpectedly, Kelly’s financial footing is still sound.

Chip Kelly has a net worth of $25 million after coaching in both college and the NFL.

Kelly played quarterback at Manchester Central before switching to defensive back at the University of New Hampshire. He started his coaching career in 1990 at Columbia.

Kelly’s national rise started in Oregon, first as an offensive coordinator from 2007, then as head coach from 2009-12. His up-tempo system changed college football, and he won Coach of the Year many times.

He has also been the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-15 and the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. His tenure coaching the Raiders, however, did not play out the way the organization had envisioned.

Chip Kelly firing: Why the Raiders made the move?

Under Kelly, the Raiders fielded one of the least productive offenses in the league. Entering Week 12, Las Vegas ranked 24th in passing yards, 31st in rushing yards, and 30th in points scored. That unit followed that up by putting only 10 points on the board Sunday, a performance that sealed Kelly’s fate.

Despite the additions of quarterback Geno Smith and dynamic tight end Brock Bowers, the offense seldom appeared functional. Protection issues were relentless, culminating in a contest where the Raiders yielded 10 sacks.

First-round running back Ashton Jeanty was consistently underutilized, and several personnel decisions drew internal and external scrutiny. Kelly’s firing is the second coordinator dismissal this season, marking a deeper reset under Pete Carroll. The Raiders have not named an interim offensive coordinator to date, but quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, a former OC with extensive experience, is the leading candidate.

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At 2-9 and with the Chargers on tap, Las Vegas is left rebuilding an offense that collapsed under the most expensive coordinator contract in NFL history. And now, the franchise must pay the financial price for the gamble that never paid off.