Chip Kelly has left an indelible mark on Northwestern football

This season marks a new chapter in the history of Northwestern football. Not only is the school opening a new football stadium, but Chip Kelly is the new offensive coordinator. The former Oregon coach who won three Pac-12 titles with a Big 10 school, has returned to college after a year in the NFL.

Kelly is taking over the fifth-lowest scoring offense in the conference, but he’s already got his hardhat on and is ready to get to work. No, seriously, he was wearing a hardhat today.

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The expensive new Ryan Field, which features permanent lighting among other modern amenities, is nearly complete and the press was invited in to look around this week. Kelly was there in a hat and purple vest to field some questions. The image quickly went viral for obvious reasons.

Chip Kelly coaching history

At 62-years-old with a coordinator job in the Big 10, who knows if Kelly will finally settle down at Northwestern. This is, after all, his seventh stop in the last 15 years.

Chip Kelly saw great success as head coach of the Oregon Ducks from 2009 to 2012. Oregon won three Pac-12 championships and made it to the BCS National Championship where they lost to Cam Newton and Auburn in January 2010.

In 2013 he took the head coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles. He went 10-6 twice but never won a playoff game. He was fired with a game left in the 2015 season. Kelly then went 2-14 with the San Francisco 49ers before taking a job with ESPN.

Eventually, UCLA came calling. Kelly turned the Bruins into a winning program but left UCLA for the offensive coordinator job at Ohio State. The Buckeyes won a national championship with Kelly calling the plays.

Last season he was back in the NFL running the Raiders’ offense under Pete Carroll. That did not work out, and he was fired after 11 games.

Whatever happens with the Wildcats this season, the image of Kelly in a hardhat and vest will never be forgotten. He is now officially a part of the history of Northwestern football.