Charles Edward Kelly (born November 25, 1963) is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for Northwestern. He came to prominence as a college football head coach for the University of Oregon from 2009 to 2012, leading them to the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. Kelly's success led to a stint in the NFL, where he coached for four seasons, three with the Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2015) and one with the San Francisco 49ers (2016). After the NFL, Kelly returned to college in 2018 as the head football coach for UCLA, coaching for six seasons before leaving in 2024 to join Ohio State as their offensive coordinator. Kelly was hired by the NFL team, the Las Vegas Raiders, to be their offensive coordinator in 2025, but was fired after Week 12 following a 2–9 start to the season. He returned again to the collegiate ranks in 2026 with Northwestern.
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Early life and education
Kelly was born in Dover, New Hampshire. He attended Manchester Central High School, where he played football, ice hockey, and basketball. Kelly earned his Bachelor of Science in physical education from the University of New Hampshire in 1990.
Kelly played quarterback at Manchester Central High School and defensive back at the University of New Hampshire.
Coaching career
Early coaching years
Kelly broke into the coaching ranks in 1990 for the Columbia University Lions, where he served as secondary and special teams coach for the freshman team. The next year, Kelly was outside linebackers and strong safeties coach for the varsity team. In 1992, he went to the University of New Hampshire — his alma mater — as the running backs coach. A year later, Kelly left to become the defensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins University for one season. He returned to his alma mater as the running backs coach for the next three seasons (1994–96). Kelly was just in time to devise a zone-blocking scheme for star Jerry Azumah. From 1995 through 1998, the speedy back raised the profile of UNH football as he rushed for what was then an FCS record 6,193 yards. Kelly changed to the offensive line coach for two seasons (1997–98).
Kelly was promoted to offensive coordinator at New Hampshire in 1999. The Wildcats' offenses averaged better than 400 yards per game of total offense in seven of his eight seasons.
In 2004, the school broke 29 offensive school records; compiling 5,446 yards of total offense and scoring 40 or more points in seven games. Their best offensive output was in 2005 when the Wildcats finished second nationally in total offense (493.5 ypg), third in scoring (41.7 ppg), and fifth in passing (300.1 ypg). They finished the season with an 11–2 record.
Kelly was named the College Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston following the 2005 season in addition to being selected as "one of college football's hottest coaches" by American Football Monthly. In 2006, quarterback Ricky Santos won the Walter Payton Award under Kelly's guidance, after Santos finished second in balloting for the award in 2005.
Kelly, along with UNLV Rebels head coach Dan Mullen, former Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, is part of the so-called "New Hampshire mafia" as they all have strong connections to New Hampshire.
Oregon (2007–2012)
Kelly was hired as offensive coordinator at Oregon in February 2007. His potent spread offense attack was an instant success at Oregon.
In his first season as offensive coordinator at Oregon, the Ducks led the Pac-10 in scoring (38.15 ppg) and total offense (467.54 ypg), and also became the highest scoring team while amassing the most yards in the history of Oregon football. Prior to Kelly's arrival at Oregon, Dennis Dixon struggled in his first three seasons at quarterback. Under Kelly's guidance, Dixon was the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
In 2008, the Ducks once again led the Pac-10 in scoring (41.9 ppg) and total offense (484.8 ypg), while breaking the school record marks set the previous season.
On March 31, 2009, Oregon announced head coach Mike Bellotti would be promoted to athletic director, with Kelly promoted to head coach.
Kelly coached Oregon to BCS games in each of his four seasons as head coach: the 2010 Rose Bowl, 2011 BCS National Championship Game, 2012 Rose Bowl, and 2013 Fiesta Bowl. Kelly coached Oregon to three consecutive outright conference championships from 2009 to 2011 and a conference division title in 2012. Oregon won its second consecutive BCS bowl game after they defeated #5 Kansas State in the 2013 Fiesta Bowl. What may be considered the most important part of Kelly's résumé at Oregon, however, is that he posted undefeated records against the Ducks most hated rivals, the Oregon State Beavers and the Washington Huskies, something never before achieved by an Oregon coach.
Kelly was named the 2009 and 2010 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, 2010 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, 2010 Walter Camp Coach of the Year, 2010 Sporting News Coach of the Year, 2010 AFCA Coach of the Year Award, and 2010 Associated Press Coach of the Year.
Kelly helped the Ducks gain national attention in 2009 after an upset of the then #5 USC Trojans on October 31. Kelly became the first Pac-10 coach to win an outright conference championship in his first season, sending the Ducks to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995. The Ducks hoped to win their first Rose Bowl since 1917, but lost a close game to Ohio State. On December 7, 2009, Kelly was named Pac-10 Coach of the year. He was the second Ducks coach to earn the honor, the other being Rich Brooks (two times).
Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2015)
Kelly agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles to become the team's head coach on January 16, 2013. Although general manager Howie Roseman ran the team's drafts and free agency signings in his first two seasons with the team, Kelly had the final say over the 53-man roster. His predecessor, Andy Reid, also had the title and/or powers of general manager for most of his tenure.
In his first season, Kelly reversed the Eagles' fortunes of the previous year. Taking over a team that went 4–12 in 2012, Reid's last year, Kelly led the Eagles to a 10–6 record and the NFC East Division title, becoming just the second head coach in league history to win a division title in his first season in the NFL. They narrowly lost to the New Orleans Saints 26–24 in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
In his second season in Philadelphia, Kelly finished with an identical 10–6 record, despite key injuries to players like quarterback Nick Foles and linebacker DeMeco Ryans. However, unlike the previous season, the Eagles failed to make the playoffs in 2014.
On January 2, 2015, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie announced that Kelly would assume control of the 90-man roster (including authority over the draft and free agency), while Roseman would be "elevated" to the role of Executive Vice President of Football Operations, remaining in control of the salary cap and contracts. Soon afterward, the Eagles traded All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso (who was a former Oregon Duck under Kelly) and Pro Bowl quarterback Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams for quarterback Sam Bradford on March 10, 2015, under Kelly's request. Both trades were met with overwhelmingly negative reception from Eagles fans. He also signed former Cowboys running back and reigning rushing champion DeMarco Murray. Kelly also was criticized by current and former players and coaches for treating White and Black players differently, and for being a control freak who sees his players "as a commodity."
On December 29, 2015, with the Eagles at 6–9, Kelly was fired before the final regular season game, in a statement made by Lurie. It was quickly speculated that Kelly would be a candidate for several NFL head coach openings, and on January 7, it was reported that Kelly had met with the San Francisco 49ers about their head coaching position.
San Francisco 49ers (2016)
On January 14, 2016, Kelly was hired by the San Francisco 49ers as head coach. He entered the 2016 season as the 49ers' third coach in three seasons, following Jim Harbaugh and Jim Tomsula. In Kelly's first game with the 49ers, they defeated the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium during a 28–0 shutout victory. It was the first Week 1 shutout since 2009, when the Seattle Seahawks coincidentally shutout the Rams. However, the 49ers then went on a 13-game losing streak, with many speculations opening up about trouble between Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke by April 2016. In late November, there were also many rumors that Kelly would return to coach the Oregon Ducks after the Ducks finished the season with a 4–8 record, the team's first losing season since 2004, resulting in the firing of Ducks football coach Mark Helfrich. Those rumors ceased after the Ducks hired former South Florida Bulls coach Willie Taggart on December 7.
The 49ers finally got their second win of the season on December 24 in a narrow 22–21 road victory over the Rams, then lost their final game of the season on January 1, 2017, at home against the Seahawks. Following the narrow 25–23 loss to the Seahawks and having posted a 2–14 record for the season, Kelly and Baalke were both fired by the 49ers.
ESPN (2017)
On May 26, 2017, Kelly was hired by ESPN as a studio analyst for college football.
UCLA (2018–2024)
On November 25, 2017, Kelly was hired as the head football coach at UCLA. He had also interviewed for the Florida head coach position. In Kelly's first season in 2018, the Bruins began the year 0–5 for the first time since 1943. However, they later defeated USC to snap a three-game losing streak against their crosstown rivals. UCLA finished the season with a 3–9 record, their worst since going 2–7–1 in 1971. Their average home attendance of 51,164 was the school's smallest since averaging 49,825 in 1999.
The next season, the Bruins started 0–3, with losses to Cincinnati, San Diego State, and No. 5 Oklahoma, all by multiple scores. Under Kelly, the Bruins started 0–3 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1920–1921. The 0–3 start to the 2019 season gave Kelly the worst 15-game start as a UCLA football coach since Harry Trotter. However, when the Bruins played No. 19 Washington State the following week, they erased a 49–17 deficit and won 67–63. The 32-point comeback was the third-largest in FBS history.
Two weeks after the win over Washington State, the Bruins lost at home to Oregon State by a score of 48–31. This was only the Beavers' third road win over a Pac-12 opponent since 2014, and their largest road win over a Pac-12 opponent since their 49–17 win at California in 2013. The loss dropped the Bruins to a 1–5 record for the second consecutive year.
After an open date, the Bruins traveled to Stanford and defeated the Cardinal 34–16. UCLA got its first win over Stanford since 2008, snapping an 11-game losing streak against the Cardinal. The Bruins held the Cardinal to 198 total yards and just 55 rushing yards in the victory.
Following the Stanford victory, the 2019 Bruins defeated Arizona State 42–32 at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins led 42–10 heading into the fourth quarter. The Sun Devils were ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll at the time, and they were favored over the Bruins by three points at kickoff. UCLA then defeated Colorado 31–14 the next week, also at the Rose Bowl. The wins over Stanford, Arizona State, and Colorado gave the Bruins their first three-game winning streak since 2015.
After three straight losing seasons, UCLA was 8–4 in 2021. In 2022, they began the season 5–0 for the first time since 2013, and finished 9–4 (6–3 in the Pac-12) with a 37–35 loss to Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl on a last-second field goal by the Panthers. The Bruins were ranked No. 21 in the final polls. After the season, Kelly signed a two-year contract extension that runs through 2027. In 2022, he was paid $5.77 million by UCLA for his role as head coach. The Bruins were 8–5 in 2023, winning the LA Bowl over Boise State for the program's first bowl win since 2015. It was the Bruins' third consecutive eight-win season, the second such streak in the program since 1988 under coach Terry Donahue.
Ohio State (2024–2025)
Kelly replaced Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator, after O'Brien left Ohio State to become the head coach for Boston College. The move reunited Kelly and Ryan Day, who had served under Kelly at New Hampshire, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Kelly helped lead Ohio State to winning a National Championship. Kelly's Buckeye offense faced four of College Football's top teams and defeated Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame en route to the school's ninth National Championship.
Las Vegas Raiders (2025)
On February 4, 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders hired Kelly as their offensive coordinator under new head coach Pete Carroll. Following a 2–9 start to the season, Kelly was fired on November 23.
Northwestern (2026–present)
On December 30, 2025, Kelly was hired as the next offensive coordinator for Northwestern, replacing Zach Lujan, whose contract was not renewed at the end of the 2025 season.
Personal life
Kelly is reluctant to discuss his life outside of football. He lives in Winnetka, Illinois, but has a small, tight-knit group of friends in Manchester, New Hampshire, who never speak about him to reporters. ESPN blogger Ted Miller describes Kelly as being "funny, biting, pithy, strange, fiery and surprising when talking to reporters."
Kelly was married to Jennifer Jenkins from 1992 to 1999.
In 2009, Kelly responded to a season ticket holder's letter demanding a refund for his expenses after traveling to see Oregon's 19–8 loss to Boise State. That loss ended with Ducks running back LeGarrette Blount responding to a Bronco player's taunts by punching him in the face. Kelly replied to the man with a personal check written out for his travel costs (exactly $439); in response, the fan wrote Kelly a thank you note returning the original uncashed check.
Awards
2009 Pac-10 Coach of the Year
2010 Pac-10 Coach of the Year
2010 Associated Press Coach of the Year
2010 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
2010 Walter Camp Coach of the Year
2010 Sporting News Coach of the Year
2010 AFCA Coach of the Year
2013 Maxwell Club Coach of the Year