If Chip Kelly ever had an interest in returning to college football, now is the time.
The Oregon Ducks have fired head coach Mark Helfrich, Kelly’s replacement for three seasons, and they announced the move in a pretty scathing press release.
Oregon’s first loss of 2016 was at Nebraska, a 35-32 defeat in which the Ducks went for two after all five of their touchdowns and converted once. The next week, Pac-12 play began with a loss to Colorado in which the Ducks allowed 41 points and threw an interception on a potential game-winning TD pass in the final minute.
The recently completed season also included one-sided losses to Washington (70-21), Southern California (45-20) and Stanford (52-27). An upset of No. 11 Utah on Nov. 19 kept alive Oregon’s hopes of making a bowl despite a 5-7 record, but the loss in Corvallis ended that.
Initial reports around the college football world do not list Kelly as an immediate head coaching candidate, something he’s consistently said for months.
Coaches that may be in mix for #Oregon: #UCF's Scott Frost; #UF's Jim McElwain; #WMU's PJ Fleck #WVU's Dana Holgorsen & BSU's Bryan Harsin.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 30, 2016
“I haven’t talked to a college since I’ve been in the NFL and that’s not my goal,” Kelly said on Nov. 7. “My goal is to be the head coach of the 49ers and that’s what I want to do. So, I don’t know why that’s a new, it surprises me that that continues to be a new story. It’s been the same story since I left four years ago. So, I’m not looking to go back and that’s what I’ve always said. So, I don’t know why it’s still a story.”
Bobby Petrino (Atlanta Falcons) and Nick Saban (Miami Dolphins) are two recent coaches who fled the NFL to return back to college. Kelly did make the playoffs in his first year with the Eagles, though, and went 10-6 in his second season.
Things have changed rather quickly. Kelly is now 3-15 dating back to his last season with the Eagles. Most expect CEO Jed York to keep Kelly for a second chance in 2017.
The 49ers are currently practicing in Orlando all week. Expect Kelly to be asked on Wednesday about this job, and expect a snarky but funny response.