Aidan Chiles Details First Game Working With Chip Kelly

Aidan Chiles’ first game in a Northwestern uniform gave fans an early look at what the quarterback can become under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

The connection was far from perfect, but there were enough flashes in Northwestern’s 34-18 season-opening win over South Dakota State to show why the pairing has generated so much excitement heading into the 2026 season.

For Chiles, the biggest takeaway was how comfortable he felt working with Kelly.

“I felt really comfortable,” Chiles said. “The first half was me getting under my own feet, came back second half I trusted my guys and played football how it’s supposed to be played. I was glad he was there, especially on the field.”

Chiles admitted that the first half was about settling into a new offense and getting comfortable in his first game with the Wildcats. That changed after halftime.

As Chiles began to trust his teammates and play more freely, Northwestern’s offense found more consistency and eventually pulled away from a South Dakota State team that kept the game competitive into the fourth quarter.

Kelly was at the center of it all, calling plays and overseeing the offense throughout the night.

Chiles said Kelly was “calling great plays” and had a strong understanding of what the Jackrabbits’ defense was going to look like, something that allowed the quarterback to play with confidence as the game progressed.

Chiles was especially grateful to have Kelly on the sideline.

“He was over everything all night and he knew what stuff was gonna look like,” Chiles said. “So I was just really excited and grateful that he was out there, especially on the field.”

That connection was on display almost immediately.

Chiles’ first completion as a Northwestern quarterback went for 71 yards to Griffin Wilde. One play later, he found tight end Alex Honig for an 11-yard touchdown.

Two plays. Seven points. And an early glimpse of what Kelly’s offense could look like with a quarterback capable of creating plays through both the air and on the ground.

The Wildcats did not maintain that level of explosiveness throughout the entire game, but the early sequence showed the potential of the new quarterback-offensive coordinator combination.

Chiles eventually finished with 273 passing yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown in his Northwestern debut. His ability to make plays with his legs added another dimension to an offense that finished with 497 total yards and 224 rushing yards.

That dual-threat ability could be especially valuable in Kelly’s system.

There will be an adjustment period for both Chiles and Kelly.

Kelly is learning how to best utilize a quarterback he has never coached in a game before, while Chiles is learning an entirely new offensive system and getting accustomed to the way Kelly calls a game.

Saturday showed that the process is still ongoing.

There were moments when the offense stalled, and Chiles acknowledged that he was still finding his footing during the first half. But there were also plenty of moments that showed why this partnership could become one of Northwestern’s biggest strengths.

Kelly’s playcalling combined with Chiles’ ability to extend plays, attack defenses vertically and create yards with his legs gives Northwestern an intriguing combination.

The Wildcats already have weapons around Chiles, including Wilde, Honig and a rushing attack that produced 224 yards in the opener.

As the season progresses, Chiles should become more comfortable in Kelly’s system, and Kelly should become more familiar with exactly what his quarterback does best. That could make this offense increasingly difficult to defend.

Chiles also entered the season as one of Northwestern’s six captains, making his first game more than just an introduction to a new offense.

It was the beginning of his leadership role with the Wildcats.

He responded by helping Northwestern navigate a competitive season opener and make the plays necessary to pull away late.

There is still plenty of work ahead for Chiles and Kelly, but Saturday provided a promising first chapter.

The 71-yard connection with Wilde and touchdown to Honig showed the explosiveness. Chiles’ rushing touchdown showed the value of his dual-threat ability. And the way he settled in during the second half showed that his comfort level can continue to grow.

For Northwestern, the most exciting part may be that this was only the beginning.

If Chiles continues to build trust in Kelly’s system and Kelly continues to find ways to maximize his quarterback’s skill set, the Wildcats could have a scary duo leading the offense throughout the 2026 season.