Chip Kelly’s quarterback history steeped in getting most out of mid-tier talent

While landing a quality signal caller is a must-do, Raiders offensive coordinator maximizes production from the position

It’s no secret the Las Vegas Raiders have themselves a quarterback quandary.

So much so it’s not surprising to hear and read reports of the Silver & Black being tied to signal callers like the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford or a reclamation project like Zach Wilson.

This is a direct result of Las Vegas’ quarterback room that’s currently inhabited by veteran Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O’Connell (who enters Year 3), and 2024 undrafted free agent Carter Bradley.

Speaking during media availability at the NFL Combine, Raiders general manager John Spytek was asked about the all-important position and the Silver & Black’s chief personnel man provided insight on the holistic approach the team is taking at quarterback.

“I mean, not to be kind of the cliché here, but any avenue where we can find a quarterback we’re going to explore. So obviously there’s free agents. We have some guys in the building that we want to give a chance to compete,” Spytek said. “And working with Coach (Pete Carroll) and with (offensive coordinator) Chip (Kelly) and Olie (quarterbacks coach Greg Olson) and the whole offensive staff, we’re just going to try to find as many guys as we can to load that room up and have a great competition there.”

Landing a quality signal caller is a must-do this offseason, however, Kelly’s addition to the coaching staff is of note. The prolific play caller has a penchant to maximize production from the quarterback position. And his history is steeped in getting the most out of mid-tier talent. His long list of signal callers at his various stops isn’t a paragon of elite talent, mind you.

Kelly puts his players in the best possible position to succeed and has gone from a dizzying array of fast-paced plays to overwhelm opponents (the Oregon Ducks days) to more deliberate and getting into the right play (the Ohio State Buckeyes days). From the zone read option to power running and a balanced attack, we saw Kelly’s prowess during the Buckeyes title run and was on brilliant display in Ohio State’s 34-23 National Championship victory over Notre Dame back on Jan. 20.

Will Howard was the Buckeyes quarterback this past season and he went from a non-descript career at Kansas State to exponentially more productive under Kelly at Ohio State.

Hence: Kelly, the Mid-whisperer.

While it would be extremely intriguing to see what production Kelly can get out of a top-tier talent, he has the résumé of a coach who develop lesser-known talent into quality signal callers. Thus the notion of what can Kelly got out of quarterbacks currently on the roster has merit.

But, I’m not obtuse to note the QB room in Las Vegas is in dire need of an infusion of talent. Let’s look at the Raiders’ offensive coordinator’s history:

Kelly’s Heroes

Here’s a year-by-year run down of Kelly’s quarterback history dating from his seasons as offensive coordinator at Oregon (2007-08) and head coach (2009-12). And that progresses to the NFL and back to college:

Oregon Ducks

• 2007: Dennis Dixon – 172 of 254 (67.7 percent), 2,136 yards, 20 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 105 carries, 583 yards, 9 touchdowns
• 2008: Jeremiah Masoli – 136 of 239 (56.9 percent), 1,744 yards, 13 touchdowns, 5 interceptions; 127 carries, 718 yards, 10 touchdowns
• 2009: Jeremiah Masoli – 177 of 305 (58 percent), 2,147 yards, 15 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 121 carries, 668 yards, 13 touchdowns
• 2010: Darron Thomas – 222 of 361 (61.5 percent), 2,881 yards, 30 touchdowns, 9 interceptions; 93 carries, 486 yards, 5 touchdowns
• 2011: Darron Thomas – 211 of 339 (62.2 percent), 2,761 yards, 33 touchdowns, 7 interceptions; 56 carries, 206 yards, 3 touchdowns
• 2012: Marcus Mariota – 230 of 336 (68.5 percent), 2,677 yards, 32 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 106 carries, 752 yards, 5 touchdowns

Philadelphia Eagles

• 2013: Michael Vick/Nick Foles – 77 of 141 (54.6 percent), 1,215 yards, 5 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 36 carries, 306 yards, 2 touchdowns/203 of 317 (64 percent), 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns, 2 interceptions; 57 carries, 221 yards, 3 touchdowns
• 2014: Nick Foles/Mark Sanchez – 186 of 311 (59.8 percent), 2,163 yards, 13 touchdowns, 10 interceptions; 16 carries, 67 yards/198 of 309 (64.1 percent), 2,418 yards, 14 touchdowns, 11 interceptions; 34 carries, 87 yards, 1 touchdown
• 2015: Sam Bradford – 346 of 532 (65 percent), 3,725 yards, 19 touchdowns, 14 interceptions; 26 carries, 39 yards

San Francisco 49ers

• 2016: Blaine Gabbert/Colin Kaepernick – 91 of 160 (56.9 percent), 925 yards, 5 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 40 carries, 173 yards, 2 touchdowns/196 of 331 (59.2 percent), 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 69 carries, 468 yards, 2 touchdowns

UCLA Bruins

• 2018: Wilton Speight/Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 126 of 208 (60.6 percent), 1,527 yards, 6 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 39 carries, 27 yards, 2 touchdowns/112 of 194 (57.7 percent), 1,311 yards, 7 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 50 carries for 68 yards
• 2019-22: Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 748 of 1,165 (64.2 percent), 9,399 yards, 81 touchdowns, 32 interceptions; 421 carries, 1,758 yards, 28 touchdowns
• 2023: Ethan Garbers/Dante Moore – 98 of 146 (67.1 percent), 1,136 yards, 11 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 35 carries, 127 yards/114 of 213 (53.5 percent), 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions; 45 carries, -84 yards

Ohio State Buckeyes

• 2024: Will Howard – 309 of 423 (73 percent), 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, 10 interceptions; 105 carries, 226 yards, 7 touchdowns

Of that group above, Mariota has the most games (93) and starts (74) in the NFL after being selected second overall by the Tennessee Titans the 2015 NFL Draft.

Thompson-Robinson is currently in the league and has 15 games and five starts under his belt after being taken in the fifth-round (140th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in the 2023 draft. Perhaps Kelly can entice the Raiders for a reunion between himself and DTR in Las Vegas (via trade)?

Dixon played in four games (starting three) during his three-year stint in the league after the Pittsburgh Steelers took him in the fifth round (156th overall) in the 2008 draft.

Thomas and Masoli didn’t get drafted but the duo played pro football elsewhere. Masoli is a CFL (Canadian Football League) mainstay playing eight season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He’s got 59 career starts under his belt and 135 total games. Thomas, meanwhile, had a three-year stint in the AFL (Arena Football League).