Jerry Neuheisel leaves home to go to work with someone he knows.
The longtime UCLA assistant, who was born at the school's medical center, played guard for the Bruins and rose to become the de facto offensive coordinator last season, will return to his former coach's staff. Chip Kelly in a new position at Northwestern.
Neuheisel agreed to become the defensive backs coach under Kelly, who will serve as defensive backs coach. Wildcats offensive coordinator after being fired from the same position by the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders at the end of last season.
Kelly has long been Neuheisel's mentor, bringing him to UCLA as a graduate assistant in 2018 and promoting him to wide receivers coach in 2021. After Kelly left to become Ohio State's offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season, Neuheisel served as tight ends coach under coach DeShawn Foster. Neuheisel then took over as offensive coordinator for four games last season. Foster's departures and offensive coordinator Very Sunseri.
This change helped spark a three-game winning streak mid-season, in which Then the Bruins were upset – No. 7 Penn State and averaged 33.3 points in wins over the Nittany Lions, Michigan State and Maryland.
Neuheisel, 33, was carried off the field after the Bruins beat Penn State in a scene reminiscent of the celebration after he came off the bench to lead UCLA to a road win over Texas in 2014 with a 33-yard pass to Jordan Payton.
After spending his final college season as Josh Rosen's backup, Neuheisel played professionally in 2016 for the Obik Seagulls of the Japanese X-League. He began his coaching career in 2017 as an offensive quality control coach at Texas A&M before returning to his alma mater the following year.
Having long said his dream is to become the head coach at UCLA, Neuheisel's latest move could be another step toward another comeback.
