Chip Kelly’s decision to leave for the NFL didn’t catch Ryan Day by surprise.
Day made his first comments on Kelly’s departure in an interview with Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt on Sunday night and revealed that he and Kelly discussed the possibility that Kelly could leave for the NFL when Day hired Kelly as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator one year ago.
Day decided to hire Kelly anyway because he thought Kelly could help lead the Buckeyes to a national championship.
“We talked about it, the fact that we had a really good group here and you know, the dream would be to win a national championship, and then he decides whether he wants to stay or have an opportunity to go to the NFL, and it's exactly what happened,” Day said.
Ryan Day reacts to the news of longtime coach and mentor Chip Kelly leaving @OhioStateFB after winning a National Championship together.
— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) February 3, 2025
More with @joelklatt on Kelly's departure and what reaching that mountaintop meant to Ryan Day pic.twitter.com/uoWNdGdj6Q
Day’s decision to hire Kelly came after he initially hired Bill O’Brien to be Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2024 season. When O’Brien left Ohio State after just three weeks to become the head coach, Day turned to Kelly – who he’s had a close relationship with since Kelly coached Day as New Hampshire’s offensive coordinator – and Kelly left his post as UCLA’s head coach to join Day in Columbus.
While Kelly signed a three-year contract when he became Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, Day holds no ill will toward his longtime friend for going to the Las Vegas Raiders. He’ll cherish the memories of winning a national championship with Kelly forever, and he looks forward to reminiscing on those memories when he sees Kelly in the future.
“To be able to have a beer in a few years and talk about the year that we had together is going to be special, because we all started together and this is where I started (coaching), with him,” Day said. “And we went and did that (won a national championship). And what a great story. And I know so many people back home in New Hampshire are just excited for him and for the story. It's pretty special.”
