In a stunning manner, Chip Kelly has agreed to become the next head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles early Wednesday afternoon, leaving Oregon and the program he turned into a collegiate powerhouse.
On Jan. 3, Kelly lead the fourth ranked Ducks to a 35-17 win over the fifth ranked Kansas State Wildcats in the Fiesta Bowl. Three days later on Jan. 6, Kelly stated he was staying at Oregon, putting any talk of the NFL behind him.
While it seemed the Eagles were seriously pursuing Kelly immediately after the firing of Andy Reid on Dec. 31, Kelly shot down the NFL rumors with the statement that he would remain with Oregon.
What many football fans did not see happening was a change of heart by the offensive minded coach Kelly.
After countless interviews with many head coaching candidates, it was a secret interview between Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, and Eagles president Don Smolenski that lured Kelly to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, compared to the other NFL coaching vacancies has something other teams did not have, a winning formula. While the Eagles hold the fourth pick in the 2013 draft after a 4-12 season, San Diego, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Arizona, Buffalo, and Cleveland are arguably much worse situations for a head coach to jump into.
Key players such as LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and two possible options at quarterback in Michael Vick and Nick Foles could be options in the new offensive scheme for what will now be Kelly's team.
While Chicago missed the playoffs following a 10-6 season, the Bears chose Marc Trestman as their next head coach, replacing another Philadelphia head coach candidate in Lovie Smith.
Ironically enough, the first head coaching candidate to land a team was former Eagles coach Andy Reid. Just days after his firing in Philadelphia, Kansas City provided Reid with the opportunity to coach the Chiefs, as well as make many of the head decisions for the franchise.
It was reported early by sources that there was mutual interest between Kelly and the Eagles early on. Once Kelly had decided to "return" to Oregon, the Eagles turned their search elsewhere.
Names such as Brian Kelly, Gus Bradley, Ken Whisenhunt, Brian Billick, Greg Roman, Bill O'Brien, Lovie Smith, and Jay Gruden appeared as possible candidates before Chip Kelly decided to join the Eagles.
Following an upsetting 2011 season in which the Eagles finished 8-8, owner Jeffrey Lurie publicly stated he would give former head coach Andy Reid a final chance, stating that the team must finish above mediocre. While 2012 was a disappointing train wreck, the Eagles will move in a different direction with Kelly on the sidelines in 2013.
After 14 seasons in Philadelphia, Reid finished his tenure with the Eagles with a 130-93-1 record. After five NFC Championship games, Reid left the Eagles with a 10-9 record in the postseason and never winning a Superbowl. While Reid lead the Eagles to the Superbowl in 2005, the Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21.
Like Reid, Kelly has also had success, but at the collegiate level. Through four seasons as the head coach of Oregon, Kelly compiled a 46-7 record, winning the Rose Bowl in 2011 and the Fiesta Bowl in 2012, while falling in the BCS National Championship game in 2010 as well as the Rose Bowl in 2009.
As a new head coach, a lot is expected early from Kelly as the new leader of the Eagles. A team that has made the playoffs in nine of the past 14 seasons, Philadelphia has failed to reach the postseason since 2010. Although Kelly has had success at the collegiate level, only time will determine if that success will carry over into Kelly's first job at the NFL level.
“Chip Kelly will be an outstanding head coach for the Eagles,” Lurie said. “He has a brilliant football mind. He motivates his team with his actions as well as his words. He will be a great leader for us and will bring a fresh, energetic approach to our team.”
A press conference will be held in Philadelphia on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. to introduce Kelly as the coach of the Eagles.
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