Pete Carroll swings big with most important hire
Here are some thoughts on the move:
A surprise headlining move:
This came out of nowhere and it shows that Carroll and the new Raiders’ regime is being both creative and aggressive as build toward the season. The offensive coordinator is the most important job on Carroll’s staff because he is more of a CEO type and he also specializes on defense. Kelly has a major role on this team as he is charged to giving life to a struggling unit. He has plenty of experience as a play caller. It can be a big move.
Better than Bevell:
One of the surprising aspects of Kelly’s hiring was that Darrell Bevell was widely considered the heavy favorite to land this job. Bevell, the quarterbacks coach with the Miami Dolphins, was with Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks for seven years. A Bevell hiring would have been fairly uninspiring. The hiring of Kelly has a much higher ceiling for success.
Mutual respect:
It’s not a surprise that Carroll would be interested in Kelly. They coached against each at in college when Carroll was at USC and Kelly was at Oregon and in the NFL when Carroll was with the Seahawks and Kelly was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
He knows what he’s doing:
Kelly is known as a master play caller. He knows offense. He has 10 years experience as a college head coach and four as an NFL head coach. He did a masterful job at Ohio State as its offensive coordinator as the Buckeyes won the national championship last season.
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Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Been a while since he’s been in the NFL:
This will be the first time Kelly works in the NFL since the 2016 season after he was fired as the 49ers’ head coach. Kelly has only four seasons of NFL experience, all as a head coach, including three seasons with Philadelphia. So, he will have to adjust back to the pro game.
Probably a better OC than head coach:
Kelly had his best head-coaching success while at Oregon spanning 2009-12. He’s had mixed success as a head coach at other spots. But he can coordinate an offense. being just an offensive coach probably best suits him.
Spending money:
Sports Illustrated reported that Kelly is being paid $6 million a season. The highest total for an offensive coordinator in the NFL. Last year, the Raiders lost out of Kliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator because of contract length. This year, there was no worries there. The Raiders, flush with new ownership spending power, couldn’t land the big head-coach fish in Ben Johnson, but they were able to spend big with this hire.
Hint of offseason spending?
Carroll has said the Raiders are in win-now mode and the Kelly hiring expresses that sentiment. The Raiders are projected to more more than $92 million in salary-cap room. Perhaps they are ready to give Kelly some new toys on offense with Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins and Kansas City guard Trey Smith being top prizes.
Still need a quarterback:
No matter the success Kelly has had calling plays, the Raiders need a quarterback whether it’s in free agency or the draft. That is still the top priority.
Hint of draft picks?
Perhaps the Raiders will add players from Ohio State and UCLA (Kelly was the head coach there from 2018-23). Potential targets include Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and running back TreVeyon Henderson.
Good leadership:
The Raiders appear strong at the top positions on the coaching staff with Carroll, Kelly and holder defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. It’s a solid group.
Finally got him:
Antonio Pierce made a run at Kelly in 2024 and couldn’t close the deal. This year, Carroll and the big money landed him.
