NOVACARE COMPLEX – Chip Kelly, known for possessing strong leadership skills and one of the most innovative minds in football today, will be the new head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles – the 21st head coach in the franchise’s history.
Kelly – with his fast-paced offense and aggressive play calling – has been the head coach at the University of Oregon. He met with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, team president Don Smolenski and general manager Howie Roseman early in the head coach search in Arizona after the Fiesta Bowl for almost nine hours with both sides engaging in a wide ranging, enthusiastic discussion of everything from football philosophy to management and organizational values and ideas. The conversations continued until Kelly decided he wanted to remain at the University of Oregon.
Still, Kelly continued to evaluate the opportunity to work for the Eagles in the NFL.
“Chip Kelly will be an outstanding head coach for the Eagles,” said Lurie. “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.”
This will be Kelly’s first head coaching job in the NFL.
The 49-year-old Kelly has been with the University of Oregon since 2007, including the last four years as head coach. Kelly compiled an astounding 46-7 (.868) record as head coach of the Ducks as he solidified that program as one of college football’s elite. He also worked as the team’s offensive coordinator from 2007-08.
Before joining the University of Oregon, Kelly was the offensive coordinator for the University of New Hampshire, his alma mater, from 1999-2006. He was that school’s offensive line coach from 1997 to 1998 and its running backs coach from 1994-96.
Over the years, Kelly has developed an aggressive offensive strategy and system. Kelly is one of the most progressive thinkers in football today. A strong leader and an innovative football mind was at the top of Lurie’s list when he outlined the characteristics he was seeking in a coach when he launched the search.
Under Kelly in 2012, Oregon averaged nearly 50 points per game (49.6) and his four-year scoring average with the Ducks was a whopping 44.7 points per contest.
His first coaching job was with Columbia University where he was the outside linebackers coach and the strong safeties coach in 1991. In 1993, he was the defensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins University.
Kelly graduated from New Hampshire with a BS in Physical Education in 1990.
The Eagles will introduce the new head coach to its fans as soon as arrangements can be made.