Chip Kelly hard hat photo at new Northwestern stadium goes viral

When you've been around college football as long as Chip Kelly has, you know how to dress for the occasion.

Kelly, who was hired as the offensive coordinator at Northwestern this offseason, addressed the media from the field at the new Ryan Field. The state-of-the-art new stadium is set to open in October, and while the final construction pieces are completed, Kelly had to keep safety first.

His outfit — a bright purple and neon yellow safety vest paired with a white hard hat bearing the Wildcats' logo — went viral on social media Tuesday. It is certainly an image to behold.

pic.twitter.com/bPgyQ42DUj

— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) July 21, 2026

Chip Kelly back in college football in 2026

Kelly, who won a national championship as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2024, is back in the Big Ten after an ill-fated stint in the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders last fall. The former Oregon and UCLA head coach was fired after 11 games, just weeks before first-year head coach Pete Carroll met the same fate.

The 62-year-old may not have the best track record in the professional ranks, but he has more than proven his chops as a premier college offensive mind. Northwestern will hope that remains the case as it looks to build upon a 7-6 season a year ago.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Chip Kelly hard hat photo at new Northwestern stadium goes viral