Kelly faces the daunting challenge of transforming the Niners into an immediate contender again.
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The Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants have found new head coaches.
“Chip has a proven track record at both the college and National Football League levels that speaks for itself, ” York said in a statement.
Bergey, a member of the 1980 NFC championship Eagles team which had continuity under Dick Vermeil, said of Kelly, “he got rid of too many players too quickly”. “I look forward to watching Trent (Baalke, the GM) and Chip work closely to build a team that will make us all proud”.
Kelly replaces Jim Tomsula, who lasted just one season as San Francisco’s coach. Kelly emerged as the favorite among several experienced candidates that included Mike Shanahan and former Raiders coach Hue Jackson, hired Wednesday to coach the Cleveland Browns.
Before he left the Eagles, Kelly was reportedly trying to engineer a trade with the 49ers for the mobile Kaepernick, who is recovering from surgeries from his left shoulder, right thumb and left knee, thrived under former head coach Jim Harbaugh. Before joining the Eagles, Kelly was Oregon’s head coach (2009-12) after two seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator (2007-08).
According to one source for Cam Inman of the Mercury News, neither the 49ers nor Kelly reached out to him during the coaching search. Trent Baalke remains the club’s general manager.
On the phone Thursday, Craig reiterated his endorsement for the former Eagles coach and downplayed Kelly’s clashes with players in Philadelphia.
Kelly seems to be a good fit for San Francisco and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who gives him his most athletic weapon at the position since he arrived in the NFL.
It will be interesting to see if Chip Kelly will get the opportunity to work with Colin Kaepernick.
Wide receiver Torrey Smith tweeted he would “have to start running right now to get in shape” for Kelly’s notoriously up-tempo style.
He takes over a team that has posted losing records the past three seasons, including 6-10 campaigns the last two years. “I figured him or Spagz (Spagnuolo)would have been a great pick”. “But I would put Kaepernick in this system and I certainly would take him”. “I can just Xerox you a copy of the game plan, you can send it over to Kansas City”.
One of Kelly’s appeal is his offensive emphasis and ability to thrive with a dual-threat quarterback.
During his time with the Eagles, Kelly proved that he has the X’s and O’s of the game down pat.
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Meanwhile, the New York Giants confirmed that they promoted offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo to the head coaching position, a move that had been reported a day earlier. And once we get those pieces together, then myself and the head coach and the rest of the staff can sit down, evaluate the roster, evaluate every player within it and then determine who we’re moving forward with. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
