The Las Vegas Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly just hours after their 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns on November 23, 2025 — a move that underscored just how deep the team’s offensive crisis had become. With the Raiders at 2-9, the decision wasn’t just about one bad game. It was the final straw after 11 weeks of a broken, stagnant offense that had become a punchline in the NFL. Quarterback Geno Smith took 10 sacks in that single game — the most since 2013 — bringing his season total to 41, second only to Justin Fields in the league. The offensive line, under the watch of head coach Pete Carroll’s son Brennan Carroll, had allowed the second-most sacks in the NFL. And yet, no changes were made to the coaching staff… until now.
Why Chip Kelly Was Fired — And Why It Took So Long
Chip Kelly was hired in February 2025 as the NFL’s highest-paid offensive coordinator, earning $6 million annually. He came with a reputation: a high-octane, fast-paced system that had once made the Philadelphia Eagles a playoff threat in 2014. But in Las Vegas, the system didn’t just fail — it collapsed. The Raiders ranked 31st in rushing (79.5 yards per game), 26th in total offense (268.0 yards), and tied for last in scoring (15.0 points per game). Smith, a veteran who’d thrived in Seattle, looked like a man trapped in a vice. He threw 13 interceptions — tied for the league lead — and was constantly under duress.There was no mystery here. The numbers didn’t lie. But the silence from the front office was deafening. For weeks, fans and analysts begged for changes. The team’s offensive line — once a strength — had become a sieve. Center Erik McCoy, guard Alex Cappa, and tackle Trent Brown all struggled with consistency, and the lack of a running game meant Smith was forced to carry the offense on his back. Pete Carroll, in a halftime interview, admitted: "Things had been so hard for the offense because Geno Smith hadn’t had a chance in the pocket." Yet he didn’t touch his son’s role as quarterbacks coach. That changed after Cleveland.
The Locker Room Wasn’t Buying In
Behind the scenes, the tension was worse than the stats suggested. Multiple sources from SilverandBlackPride.com and locker room reports indicated Kelly was "not liked" and "not respected" by players. One unnamed veteran told a reporter: "He talked like he knew everything, but he didn’t adjust when we got crushed. We’d run the same play three times in a row — and he’d just shrug and say, ‘It’s the system.’""
That’s the kind of disconnect that kills teams. Players need to believe in their coaches. In Las Vegas, that trust evaporated. After the Browns game, players didn’t even wait for the press release. Some posted cryptic messages on social media — a single fist emoji, a photo of the locker room with no captions. The message was clear: they were done waiting.
A Pattern of Chaos
This isn’t the first time the Raiders have fired an offensive coordinator mid-season. In November 2024, they let go of Luke Getsy after a 2-7 start. Now, just one year later, they’ve done it again. And it’s not just the offense. Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was fired on November 9 after a disastrous punt return allowed against Denver. The unit didn’t improve after his exit. The pattern? Panic hiring. Reactive firing. No long-term plan.
What’s worse? The Raiders’ owner, Mark Davis, has a history of this. He’s fired head coaches — Jon Gruden, Rich Bisaccia — and now coordinators. The result? A franchise that swings between hope and despair every year. There’s no identity. No stability. Just noise.
Who’s Next?
With five games left, the Raiders need someone who can fix this fast. Names being floated include Patrick Graham, a defensive mind who’s worked under Bill Belichick and has earned respect across the league. But here’s the twist: Graham’s a defensive coordinator. The Raiders need an offensive mind — someone who can adapt, not preach. Some insiders say Brennan Carroll might get promoted. Others say that’s a disaster waiting to happen.
There’s another possibility: Pete Carroll might take over play-calling himself. He’s done it before — in Seattle, he called plays for Russell Wilson’s MVP season. But he’s 74. And this offense? It’s not a tweak. It’s a rebuild.
What This Means for the Rest of the Season
The Raiders aren’t making the playoffs. That’s over. But this isn’t just about wins and losses anymore. It’s about culture. About accountability. About whether this franchise can stop treating coaching changes like a game of musical chairs.
Next up: a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thanksgiving. The Chargers’ defense is middle-of-the-pack — a chance for the Raiders to finally show something. But without a clear offensive identity, even that might not matter. Fans aren’t just tired of losing. They’re tired of the same broken system repeating itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Chip Kelly fired so quickly after the Browns game?
The firing was the culmination of 11 weeks of offensive failure — the Raiders ranked last in scoring and second-worst in rushing. The 10 sacks allowed against Cleveland were the most since 2013, and Geno Smith’s 41 sacks on the season were the second-highest in the NFL. The decision was made within four hours of the game’s end, signaling the front office had reached its breaking point after months of inaction.
How did Geno Smith’s performance contribute to the offensive collapse?
Smith threw 13 interceptions — tied for the NFL lead — and was sacked 41 times, second only to Justin Fields. He was pressured on over 45% of his dropbacks, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Without a consistent running game or pass protection, Smith was forced into risky throws. His completion percentage dropped to 59.1%, down from 64.3% in 2024, and his QBR fell to 44.6 — below league average.
Is Brennan Carroll still coaching quarterbacks despite the offensive line’s struggles?
Yes. Despite the Raiders allowing the second-most sacks in the NFL and Geno Smith’s constant pressure, Brennan Carroll — Pete Carroll’s son and the team’s quarterbacks coach — remains in his role. Critics argue the offensive line’s breakdowns should have triggered a coaching change, but Pete Carroll has so far declined to move his son, raising questions about nepotism and accountability.
What’s the likelihood the Raiders hire Patrick Graham as offensive coordinator?
Unlikely. Patrick Graham is a defensive coordinator with no offensive experience in the NFL. While he’s respected in league circles, the Raiders need an offensive mind who can adapt schemes to a struggling line and limited running game. More plausible candidates include former Bears OC Marc Trestman or veteran assistant Mike McDaniel, who has experience rebuilding offenses under pressure.
How does this compare to past Raiders coaching firings?
The Raiders have fired an offensive coordinator mid-season for two years in a row — Luke Getsy in 2024, Chip Kelly in 2025. Since 2018, they’ve had six different offensive coordinators. No other NFL team has cycled through more than three in the same timeframe. This reflects a deeper organizational issue: a lack of long-term vision and a tendency to blame coordinators instead of fixing systemic flaws like personnel or front-office structure.
What’s the financial impact of firing Chip Kelly?
Kelly had $13 million remaining on his contract after 11 games, meaning the Raiders will owe him roughly $11.8 million in guaranteed money despite his short tenure. While that’s a significant hit, it’s not unprecedented — teams often pay out buyouts to avoid toxic locker room dynamics. The real cost is the lost season and the damage to team culture, which can’t be measured in dollars.
