Kelly was dismissed on Sunday night after just 11 games into his tenure as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator. The move followed their 24-10 road loss to the Cleveland Browns, which dropped Las Vegas to a 2-9 record for the season. Head coach Pete Carroll announced the firing and thanked Kelly for his service.
Under Kelly’s leadership, the Raiders’ offense struggled mightily. They tied for last in the NFL in points per game (15.0), ranked 30th in total yards (268.9), 31st in rushing yards per game, and were among the league’s worst in offensive EPA and red-zone efficiency. Quarterback Geno Smith regressed significantly, throwing 13 interceptions and 13 touchdowns with a passer rating near the bottom of the league.
Kelly had been brought in this season to revitalize a stagnant offense — he arrived after a national championship run as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State Buckeyes and reportedly earned around $6 million annually, making him the highest-paid OC in the league at the time. However, despite the promising resume and hefty investment, the offensive issues persisted and ultimately precipitated his departure.
