The Las Vegas Raiders made a bold decision this season by hiring offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to overhaul their offense, but the partnership dissolved after just 11 games.
Following the ninth loss of the season, the team moved swiftly to fire Kelly, igniting rumors about tension between him and head coach Pete Carroll.
When pressed on the reports suggesting a clash, Carroll was candid in his remarks and claimed there was no underlying issue between them.
“Chip’s a tremendous football coach, and we communicated well. We just needed to make a change,” he said to reporters.
His statement aimed to clarify that Kelly was not ousted due to personal disagreements but because the offense failed to deliver results.
Offensive struggles leads to shake-up
Despite Kelly‘s reputation and experience, Las Vegas‘s offensive production struggled mightily under his system.
Ranking 30th in scoring and averaging a mere 4.51 yards per play, the Raiders faced a five-game losing streak, failing to score 20 points in their final three outings under Kelly.
Quarterback Geno Smith often seemed bewildered at the line of scrimmage, unsure if the plays were correct, while the lack of protection in the pocket saw him sacked often and consequently put him in the line of fire.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero highlighted the dysfunction: “There were times I was told that Chip Kelly was repeatedly botching the play calls. So, Geno Smith was going to the line of scrimmage and saying, ‘This doesn’t look right.'”
The chaos on offense fueled speculation that Carroll maintained heavy influence despite his defensive background.
Adding to the instability, Carroll also dismissed special teams coordinator Tom McMahon last month.
While some fans argued that the offensive woes were primarily Kelly‘s responsibility, the overall turmoil suggested systemic issues within the Raiders roster.
Analysts noted that many around the league believed the offense mirrored Carroll‘s previous schemes in Seattle rather than Kelly‘s innovations.
“Talking to people who know this offense very well… they do not believe it was Chip Kelly‘s offense. They believe it was Pete Carroll‘s offense,” reported Ian Rapoport.
Talent gaps on the roster
Carroll, now 74, stressed that the team’s struggles also stemmed from a talent gap.
Discussing defensive end Maxx Crosby, he said: “He’s [Maxx] a great illustration of what we’re talking about. But not everybody has the same ability as Maxx. Not everybody is as talented as him.
“Maxx has proven that over a long time. And so we need more players that can play close to that kind of level.”
Highlighting tight end Brock Bowers alongside Crosby, Carroll added: “[Bowers and Crosby] stand out because they continue to play at a really high level. Well, that’s what we’re trying to get, is more guys that can do that, play along with them.”
As Las Vegas prepares to host the Denver Broncos next, the Raiders face mounting pressure to stabilize both personnel and strategy.
With offensive questions lingering and roster talent under scrutiny, Carroll‘s ability to lead the team effectively in 2026 remains under watch.
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