One of Pete Carroll’s most notable moves during his first offseason as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders was reuniting with quarterback Geno Smith, bringing him to the Silver and Black after their previous success together with the Seattle Seahawks. Raiders fans are eager to see how the pairing plays out in Las Vegas.
However, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, Smith was vocal about his admiration for another coach – the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly. Smith revealed that playing under Kelly was something he had dreamed of for years.
“This feels like a dream come true because I’ve always admired Coach Kelly,” Smith said during OTAs. “He’s been a great coach throughout his career, and I’ve wanted to play for him ever since high school.”
Back in those days, Kelly recruited Smith while coaching at Oregon and even extended a scholarship offer. But Smith ultimately chose to attend West Virginia. Now, years later, the two are finally joining forces after the Raiders hired Kelly on February 4. A day later, Kelly expressed how excited he was to work with Pete Carroll, saying it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“In the coaching world, if you get the chance to work with Pete Carroll, it’s something to get excited about,” Kelly said.
Chip Kelly’s Championship Pedigree
Kelly brings a wealth of experience from both college and the NFL. Most recently, he achieved a major milestone by helping lead the Ohio State Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff National Championship as their offensive coordinator.
Now, Kelly returns to the NFL for the first time since his head coaching stint with the San Francisco 49ers ended in 2016. His goal is clear: help the Raiders return to their winning ways and bring home a championship.
When asked about the identity of the Raiders’ offense in 2025, Kelly kept it simple, channeling the legendary words of former owner Al Davis:
“JWB – Just win, baby.”
Smith Aims for a Bounce-Back Year
While the Seattle Seahawks went 10-7 in 2024, they faltered at home with a 3-6 record and missed the playoffs for a second straight year, disappointing fans.
Despite the team’s struggles, Smith quietly put together another strong individual season. He missed the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2021 but set a new Seahawks record with 4,320 passing yards and posted a personal-best 70.4% completion rate. However, turnovers were an issue – he threw 15 interceptions.
To return to the Pro Bowl and, more importantly, lead the Raiders to the playoffs, Smith will need to reduce mistakes. Fortunately, with the guidance of both Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly – two respected and accomplished coaches – he’s in a great position to elevate his performance in 2025.