Raiders’ Chip Kelly Urges Ashton Jeanty to Drop ‘Michael Myers’ Stance

Raiders’ OC Wants Ashton Jeanty to Ditch His ‘Michael Myers’ Stance

Chip Kelly is reshaping the running back’s pre-snap posture as Jeanty adapts to NFL life

When Ashton Jeanty steps onto the NFL field with the Las Vegas Raiders for his rookie debut this season, fans may notice a change beyond just the uniform. The standout running back—known for his unusual upright pre-snap stance, dubbed the "Michael Myers stance"—is being asked to adjust by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.

Jeanty’s signature pose, where he stands tall with his arms at his sides in the backfield, became a viral hit among fans and commentators during his college years. The stance drew comparisons to the slasher-film villain Michael Myers from the Halloween franchise, earning Jeanty both recognition and a meme-worthy reputation.

But now, it may be time to evolve that style.

From viral icon to professional standard

Despite the theatrics, Jeanty’s stance never hindered his performance. In fact, he’s coming off a historic season at Boise State, where he rushed for 2,601 yards, the second-highest single-season total in FBS history, behind only Barry Sanders in 1988.

Yet Kelly, who is overseeing a revamped Raiders offense, believes Jeanty needs to refine his technique to meet NFL expectations. According to Jeanty, the coaching began during rookie minicamp.

“Sometimes you have to, you know, go with the flow,” Jeanty told host Kay Adams on the “Up & Adams Show.”

During the camp, Kelly used an unconventional teaching moment. He asked Jeanty if he had ever played basketball. When Jeanty confirmed he had, even boasting about his dunking ability, Kelly asked him to demonstrate how he would guard an opponent.

That defensive basketball stance, Kelly said, was exactly how he wanted Jeanty to position himself in the backfield — low, balanced, and ready to explode forward.

“That's exactly why you have to be down in your running back stance,” Kelly explained, according to Jeanty.

A compromise in the making?

Although Jeanty has temporarily conceded to Kelly’s preference, he’s not ready to retire the "Michael Myers" stance for good.

“I'm going to try and persuade him one day. I got to earn my stripes and make some plays first, but I don’t think it’s going to be the end [of the stance],” he said.

Jeanty added that he enjoyed the attention his posture drew last season and even leaned into the comparison by dressing up as Michael Myers for an Instagram post.

While the stance began as a way to stay relaxed and comfortable before the snap, Jeanty is now entering a league where every movement is scrutinized — especially by coaches like Kelly who are focused on performance optimization.

Blending personality with professionalism

For Jeanty, the transition to the NFL will be about more than athleticism — it’s also about adaptation. His stance may have been part of his identity on the field, but as he takes his first steps in professional football, the priority is clear: execute at the highest level.

That said, fans hoping to see a bit of flair from the explosive rookie may not have to wait too long.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for continued coverage of NFL rookies, coaching dynamics, and the personalities shaping the league’s next generation.