In a move that instantly sent shockwaves across the NFL, a former San Francisco 49ers head coach has been relieved of his duties. The move brought back some somber memories for some 49ers fans.
The Las Vegas Raiders have fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly — the same Chip Kelly who infamously coached the San Francisco 49ers to a franchise-worst 2-14 record in 2016. The decision came late Sunday night following a 24-10 blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns, dropping Vegas to 2-9 on the season.
2016 All Over Again: The 49ers Nightmare Returns for Chip Kelly
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
San Francisco 49ers fans know this script by heart.
Hired in January 2016 to replace Jim Tomsula and bring his revolutionary Oregon offense to the NFL, Chip Kelly instead delivered the darkest season in modern 49ers history. A Week 1 shutout of the Rams offered false hope, but what followed was a soul-crushing 13-game losing streak — the longest in franchise history. By the time Black Monday arrived in 2017, both Kelly and GM Trent Baalke were gone, leaving the 49ers in ashes.
Nearly nine years later, the man who once stood at the podium in Santa Clara promising a new era has been fired again — this time by a hated AFC West rival that shares the same division history with the 49ers dating back to the old AFL days.
Why the Raiders Pulled the Plug on Chip Kelly
Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The numbers were ugly and getting uglier:
Dead last in points per game (14.2)
Dead last in rushing yards per game (78.3)
Six straight games being outscored by double digits
Sources inside the Raiders organization told ESPN that owner Mark Davis made the call immediately after Sunday’s loss. “It’s the same issues we saw with the 49ers,” one source said. “Great in theory, doesn’t work when defenses adjust.”
From National Champion to Unemployed in 11 Months
Kelly’s 2025 journey has been one of the wildest in coaching history:
February: Demoted himself from UCLA head coach to Ohio State OC
January 2025: Wins national championship with the Buckeyes
March 2025: Hired by Raiders on a lucrative three-year deal
November 24, 2025: Fired after 11 games
49ers Fans Celebrate the Ultimate Karma
Across the Bay Area and on social media, 49ers Faithful wasted no time reveling in the news.
“Raiders just paid $5 million a year to live our 2016 nightmare.” “Chip Kelly got fired by a team we hate — best Monday ever.” “Levi’s Stadium sends its regards.”
For a franchise that spent years digging out of the hole left by Kelly’s single season, watching a rival inherit the same chaos feels like sweet revenge.
What’s Next for the Raiders and the Legacy of Chip Kelly?
Quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello has been named interim offensive coordinator as the Raiders limp toward a lost season. Meanwhile, the 49ers — now 8-3 and in firm control of the NFC West under Kyle Shanahan — couldn’t have scripted a better subplot.
History will remember Chip Kelly as the man who turned a proud 49ers franchise upside down in 2016. Now, nearly a decade later, a divisional rival just paid the price for believing the hype all over again.
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