With the Las Vegas Raiders stuck in a major crisis, the team, partially owned by Tom Brady, has fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
The decision came just hours after the Raiders lost 24-10 to the Cleveland Browns, a game where Shedeur Sanders made his first NFL start for the visiting team.
The Raiders now have one of the worst records in the NFL at 2-9, despite Brady being involved in what looked like a promising offseason. The team extended star defender Maxx Crosby, hired Pete Carroll as head coach, traded for quarterback Geno Smith, and drafted running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round.
Kelly was hired in February on a huge $6 million-a-year contract, making him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the league. But the offence has struggled badly, especially Smith, who was sacked 10 times in the loss to the Browns. Carroll also appears to be under pressure as the season continues to fall apart.
Earlier in November, the Raiders fired special teams coordinator Tom McMahon as well. Kelly’s firing was first reported by ESPN.
Crosby talks about collapse
After the Browns game, Crosby didn’t hold back while speaking about the situation. He told reporters, "At this point, you’re not playing for the playoffs, which is unfortunate, but you just have to keep showing up every day, stay positive, and keep working."
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He also added, "You play for the love of the game, and we’re in the NFL. Nothing is guaranteed, and tomorrow is not guaranteed for anybody. You should keep showing up and keep working."
The schedule gets tougher from here. The Raiders next face AFC West rivals the Los Angeles Chargers, who are coming off a bye week. After that, they play the Denver Broncos and then the Super Bowl–winning Philadelphia Eagles.
