Tim Kelly is set to venture outside the AFC South for the first time in his NFL coaching career. The former Titans offensive coordinator has been hired by the Giants as their tight ends coach, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The move is now official. 
[RELATED: Giants To Hire Shane Bowen As DC]
Kelly joined the Texans’ staff in 2014, and he remained with the organization through 2021. In his final three years in Houston, he served as offensive coordinator, though the team never finished better than 14th in scoring during Kelly’s time at the helm. After a single season as the passing game coordinator of the Titans, he was promoted to OC in Tennessee for the 2023 campaign.
The Titans finished near the bottom of the league in many offensive categories, leading to speculation he could be let go midseason. Then-head coach Mike Vrabel elected not to do so, but he was among the staffers fired at the end of the regular season. As a result, signs pointed to Kelly being one of the Tennessee coaches who would be on the move during this year’s hiring cycle. That was confirmed with the arrivals of Brian Callahan as play-calling head coach and Nick Holz as OC.
New York saw TEs coach Andy Bischoff depart to take the same position with the Chargers, according to a report from Doug Samuels of FootballScoop.com. The Giants’ announcement of the Kelly hiring does not confirm that Bischoff is out, but the former’s arrival obviously points in that direction. New York will aim to improve on offense in 2024 compared to last year’s output, and the tight end spot will be a crucial aspect of that goal.
Darren Waller was acquired via trade last offseason, and he arrived with substantial expectations as the focal point of the Giants’ passing game. He finished the year (one in which the team experienced numerous quarterback injuries) with a 52-552-1 statline in 12 games. An uptick in production would be a welcomed development, along with continued growth from 2022 fourth-rounder Daniel Bellinger. Kelly will oversee their play next season as the Giants look to rebound on offense and he aims to rebuild his coordinator stock.
Giants going Titans.
that should ensure Waller’s decline