Days after his father Paul passed away, Chip Kelly returned to Santa Clara on Wednesday to coach the 49ers.
Kelly told reporters his father was very loyal and was buried in a 49ers sweatsuit. Kelly’s father was 87 years old. 49ers players reportedly greeted him with hugs as they walked onto the practice field.
“My dad’s loyal, now,” Chip Kelly said. “He actually got buried in 49ers gear. He did not want to wear a suit in the coffin. He wore a suit for his whole career as a trial lawyer. He wanted to wear a 49ers sweatsuit.”
While he was away, offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins oversaw the installation of the game plan, and it reminded the coach how life matters so much more than football.
“Sometimes in this game, we think you lose some games and it’s adversity, but when something in life hits you it’s a really good reminder for me on how to handle things,” Modkins said. “He’s been a great example of that and just being able to show up for the team, still be there for them and give them all he had, it had to be really tough. I admire him for that.”
Colin Kaepernick also offered his support from the locker room on Tuesday.
“Our thoughts and everything are with him. You never want to see anybody have that happen to them, have that happen to a family,” said the quarterback. “But, we have to do a good job as players and coaches that are here of making sure that we’re on top of the game plan and preparing for Sunday.”
The 49ers play their second to last home game Sunday against the New York Jets.