Aidan Chiles has shown clear growth through Northwestern’s first two games, giving the Wildcats plenty of optimism as he continues developing in Chip Kelly’s offense.
When Aidan Chiles arrived at Northwestern, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Wildcats was how quickly he could adjust to a new offense under head coach David Braun and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Through two games, the early returns have given Northwestern plenty to be excited about.
Chiles followed up a strong season opener against South Dakota State with an even more efficient performance in Northwestern’s 41-7 win over Colorado. The senior quarterback completed 17 of 22 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns while adding two rushing touchdowns, accounting for all five of Northwestern’s touchdowns in the victory.
But for Kelly, Chiles’ growth is about more than what shows up in the box score. One of the things Braun has appreciated most about Chiles and Kelly is their willingness to get back to work immediately after a successful performance.
After Chiles helped lead Northwestern to a 34-18 win over South Dakota State in the opener, he did not simply move on satisfied with the result. He returned to work Monday and was coached hard, something Braun said is exactly what he wants to see from his quarterback.
That mentality was evident again against Colorado.
“I was proud of his poise and playmaking ability, his athleticism and ability to keep his eyes down the field,” Braun said.
That last part could become one of the most important traits in Chiles’ development.
With his athleticism and ability to extend plays, Chiles can create problems for defenses even when the initial play does not develop as planned. But his ability to keep his eyes down the field while moving can make him even more difficult to defend because it forces defenders to account for both his legs and receivers continuing their routes.
Northwestern saw that develop throughout Saturday’s win.
Chiles was efficient throughout the night, making sound decisions while also taking advantage of opportunities when they appeared. His connection with Joseph Himon II became one of the defining parts of the game, as the two connected for three touchdown passes.
Sep 19, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Aidan Chiles (0) runs for a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesThe performance was another step forward from Chiles’ opener.
Against South Dakota State, Chiles completed 14 of 24 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score. Northwestern finished with 497 total yards in the victory, with Chiles providing explosive plays through the air and on the ground.
Two weeks into the season, the progression is already noticeable. Now comes the next challenge.
Northwestern opens Big Ten play Friday against No. 4 Indiana in Bloomington, giving Chiles his first road test of the season against a ranked conference opponent. The Hoosiers will provide a much different environment than the first two games, and the Wildcats will need their quarterback to continue making the same decisions that have helped the offense find its rhythm.
Braun knows Chiles still has plenty to learn. That is part of what makes the quarterback’s early development so intriguing.
“We’re really excited to see him grow in this offense,” Braun said. “We’ve seen him grow from Week 1 to Week 2, but it’s going to have to continue trending in that direction as we get into Big Ten play.”
For Northwestern, the goal is not simply to see how good Chiles can be in September. It is to see how much better he can become as the offense continues to evolve.
With Kelly continuing to coach him hard, Chiles embracing that process and Northwestern entering Big Ten play at 2-0, the next stage of his development could be one of the biggest storylines surrounding the Wildcats.
