Six years ago, Chip Kelly was the object of NFL intrigue -- a career college coach with a dynamic offense and an air of mystery about him.
Two NFL coaching stints later, Kelly is back in the college game, trying to spark UCLA and his own career. This week, he leads the Bruins to face Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley, the Sooners' 35-year-old coaching savant.
Although Riley isn't nearly as accomplished as Kelly was while he was coaching Oregon back in 2012, his offense is very much on the NFL's radar, as ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported this spring.
While evaluating Mayfield and all the Oklahoma talent, NFL evaluators thoroughly praised the creativity of Head Coach/Play Caller Lincoln Riley. Oklahoma has become one of the top destinations for NFL coaches to learn from. Nearly all 32 teams have come through Norman to learn.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) April 27, 2018
Riley has spent his entire career at three college programs: Texas Tech, East Carolina and now Oklahoma, one of the nation's best head-coaching jobs. But the NFL should keep monitoring him, especially given the success of younger offensive coaches such as the Los Angeles Rams' Sean McVay (age 32).
What other college coaches could make the jump to the pro ranks? I spoke to industry insiders to compile a list of candidates, from likely risers to those who would need their arms twisted to leave the college ranks.
The familiar names
Jim Harbaugh, Michigan: Harbaugh will be an annual candidate to leave for the NFL, despite a huge contract at his alma mater and his ongoing chase for a #GoBlue breakthrough. If Michigan falls short again this fall, would Harbaugh, 54, be likelier or less likely to leave? It's tough to say. Vacancies in spots like Cleveland or Miami -- Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has pursued Harbaugh before -- could be tough to turn down.
From a legacy standpoint, Harbaugh needs to truly upgrade Michigan before he moves on to the next challenge. But his NFL profile remains extremely attractive.
David Shaw, Stanford: I asked around to see if the NFL is growing tired of waiting for Shaw to leave his alma mater. I'm told the answer is no, although the chances of him departing The Farm seem rather slim. Shaw, 46, runs NFL-style schemes and injects other pro elements into Stanford's program. He spent nine seasons with three NFL teams -- Philadelphia, Baltimore and Oakland -- before joining Harbaugh at the University of San Diego and then Stanford.
It would take a unique opportunity, likely a few years down the road, for him to leave. But the league remains interested.
Brian Kelly, Notre Dame: I've spent a good amount of time around Notre Dame since Kelly reshaped the program -- and, in some ways, himself -- following the disastrous 4-8 2016 season. He seems as happy as he's ever been with the program and its direction. That said, it takes only one bad stretch -- or a really good opportunity elsewhere -- for things to change.
Kelly interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2013 after guiding Notre Dame to the BCS championship game. There are things about Kelly that could translate well to the NFL. But he's a career college coach and, at 56, may be content to finish out his career at Notre Dame or another college program.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Ferentz has had NFL opportunities and remains widely respected in the league for the type of program he runs and the types of players he sends to the next level. At 63, he would need to make his move soon if he wants to.
Ferentz just became Iowa's all-time coaching wins leader. He has taken Iowa to a Rose Bowl and two Orange Bowls. There are still goals left -- an outright Big Ten championship, for starters -- but Ferentz has little left to prove in Iowa City. He also really likes it there, and, in his mind, the NFL ship might have sailed.
Chris Petersen, Washington: Here's another candidate whom NFL teams would be interested in but who likely isn't looking to leave a comfortable situation at Washington. Petersen, 53, is a brilliant offensive coach with a 129-30 career coaching record whose schemes would translate well to the pro level. The issue is whether a guy who has coached largely outside the national spotlight -- and hates that type of attention -- would want such a public job.
It's hard to see Petersen embracing NFL headaches like player holdouts and other contract disputes, not to mention daily media obligations.
The new name
Matt Rhule, Baylor: Rhule projects as a future NFL coach. He met with the Indianapolis Colts about their coaching vacancy in January and performed well, despite not wanting to leave Baylor so soon. Rhule, 43, wants to get Baylor on track again, which might take at least another two seasons.
The interesting thing about Rhule is that he spent just one season in the NFL -- he served as Tom Coughlin's offensive line coach with the New York Giants in 2012 -- but structures much of his program around what he learned in the pro game. Rhule is just 30-34 as a head coach and ultimately must produce at Baylor, but he's already on the NFL radar and should stay there for a while. Coughlin's endorsement carries a lot of weight in pro circles.
Others to watch
Paul Chryst, Wisconsin: The industry view is that Chryst already has his dream job -- he was born and raised in Madison and played at Wisconsin. It's plausible he can finish his career there, especially given his early success (35-7, two division titles, two top-10 finishes, three bowl wins) and the program's recent investments.
But what if the Green Bay Packers came calling? Or another historic pro franchise? Chryst, 52, coached tight ends with the San Diego Chargers from 1999 to 2001 under Mike Riley, and he also spent time in the CFL and the World League. His schemes translate seamlessly to the NFL game, and he has had a strong record of producing players who excel in the pros.
James Franklin, Penn State: Franklin, 46, presents himself very much as a college coach, and he has had great success in upgrading both Vanderbilt and Penn State (37-17 career record). But he spent the 2005 season as the Green Bay Packers' wide receivers coach, and he did several NFL internships as a young college coach in the late 1990s. He likely would be intrigued with the NFL.
After attending Penn State's pro day in March, I sensed a much stronger connection between the program and the NFL. If more of Franklin's players go on to successful pro careers, he should become more attractive to pro teams.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma: He's really young (35) and, unlike McVay, didn't build his career in the NFL. But if Riley continues to churn out record-setting offenses and lead Oklahoma back to the College Football Playoff, the NFL will keep its eyes on him.
Baker Mayfield's early career also could impact how Riley is regarded as a pro-coaching candidate. If the college game is shaping the NFL game more, Riley's offense and rapid rise shouldn't be downplayed for a risk-taking pro owner.
Urban Meyer, Ohio State: It will be fascinating to see what happens when Meyer returns to full coaching duties. Will there be more fallout from the Zach Smith situation? There's chatter in the industry that Meyer, 54, remains frustrated, to the point that walking away from Ohio State after the season is a possibility. Could he walk to an NFL job like, say, the Browns?
How Meyer projects as a pro coach also is debatable. He lacks a track record of producing pro quarterbacks, although he has supplied the league at every other position. Meyer's grinder personality also translates to the NFL.
Candidates down the road
Matt Campbell, Iowa State: I was a bit surprised to hear Campbell's name as a potential NFL riser, but a deeper dive into his profile shows some potential. His early success at Iowa State -- the Cyclones beat two top-5 opponents last season -- is resonating around the industry.
Campbell's roots at Division III Mount Union in northeast Ohio parallels those of other NFL offensive coaches such as Josh McDaniels (John Carroll), Greg Roman (John Carroll) and Nick Sirianni (Mount Union). The difference is Campbell, 38, lacks any NFL experience and likely would need to lead a higher-profile college program before making the jump. But keep an eye on him.
Dan Mullen, Florida: Mullen just landed his college dream job at Florida, where he helped the Gators win two national titles as offensive coordinator under Meyer. He's not leaving any time soon and would need to restore the Gators program before bolting for the NFL.
But he can groom quarterbacks -- Dallas Cowboys starter Dak Prescott is his latest -- and facets of his offense appear in the NFL game. Mullen, 46, has never been known as a recruiting maniac, so perhaps the pro game would suit him long term.
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: I've covered Fitzgerald since he returned to Northwestern in 2001, and I've never envisioned him as an NFL coach. That said, several industry insiders brought up his name as an NFL candidate down the line. It likely would take a situation like the Chicago Bears for Fitzgerald to leave Northwestern, where he finally has the facility and resources to compete for the Big Ten title.
Fitzgerald would like to remain in the Chicago area -- his family and his wife's family still live there -- but he's only 43 and could explore an NFL opportunity down the line.
Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech: I didn't have Fuente on my original list, but the more I considered him, and asked around, he makes sense as a future NFL coaching candidate. His offense would translate, he understands the offense-defense balance after coming up under Gary Patterson, and his demeanor, according to industry insiders, also would work at the pro level.
Fuente, 42, is another career college coach, but if he continues to succeed in Blacksburg, he could soon generate NFL interest.
Scott Frost, Nebraska: Don't worry, Huskers fans, he's not leaving home soil right now. Frost, 43, is determined to restore Nebraska's prestige. He also has spent his entire coaching career in the college game. But Frost played six pro seasons for four teams. He also may soon be viewed as an older, perhaps safer version of Riley, boasting the same attractive offense with more experience to draw upon.
One thing to watch is how he refines his offense during his first few years at Nebraska. Another thing is whether he can get his alma mater fully back to a championship level. If not, he may look elsewhere.
Back to the NFL?
Chip Kelly, UCLA: Kelly is back at the level (46-8) and in the league (33-3 in the Pac-12) where he enjoyed his most coaching success. He's also in a good spot at UCLA, an underachieving program thirsting to compete for championships.
Kelly, 54, could be content to remain in college football after two failed NFL stints, but there are some who think he still sees himself at the top level. The question is, would another NFL team give him a chance? It likely would take multiple seasons of sustained success in college, but it only takes one NFL owner to say yes.
Greg Schiano, Ohio State defensive coordinator: Few coaching candidates spark stronger reactions than Schiano, the former Rutgers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and, for a few hours, Tennessee coach. The Tennessee situation certainly didn't help, but Schiano, 52, remains well-respected in certain corners of the industry.
An NFL coordinator spot could be next for him, and then who knows? The key would be convincing a future employer that his problems in Tampa Bay had more to do with the organization than his own missteps.
Coordinator corner
Ryan Day, Ohio State offensive coordinator: Day's stock is soaring, from being Ohio State's "other" offensive coordinator alongside Kevin Wilson before the 2017 season to becoming the team's acting head coach during Meyer's suspension. He turned down the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator spot this past winter to stay at Ohio State.
Day, 39, spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with mentor Chip Kelly in the NFL but otherwise has worked at the college level, where he's on his third coordinator stint. He likely would have to become a Power 5 head coach or an NFL coordinator before leading a pro franchise, but he's well on his way.
Mel Tucker, Georgia defensive coordinator: Tucker has one of the more diverse coaching profiles, working at major college programs -- LSU, Ohio State, Alabama and now Georgia -- after a lengthy stint in the NFL. He has served as defensive coordinator for three NFL teams and was the interim head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011.
After interviewing for the Tennessee job in December, Tucker, 46, likely needs to lead a college program before an NFL franchise, but he's qualified.
Wild card
Bob Stoops: While at Oklahoma, Stoops often received inquiries from the NFL but opted to remain with the Sooners. He also seems more than content to be away from coaching, and can watch his twin sons play for OU.
But if the coaching bug resurfaces, Stoops, 57, would be a good fit in the NFL, both from a schematic and personality standpoint.