ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Sunday night that Oregon coach Chip Kelly would not be pursuing a job in the NFL, but instead returning to the Ducks for a fifth season.
Via the Eugene Register-Guard on Monday, UO athletic director Rob Mullens confirmed what was already believed to be true.
“He [Kelly] did exactly what he said he would do,” Mullens told the paper. “He would talk, he’d gather all the information, he’d reflect and he’d make a decision. And that’s exactly what he did. I appreciate the way he handled it. He kept me in the loop the entire time, and I was pleased to get the call (Sunday night).”
Kelly reportedly began interviewing with NFL teams after last week’s Fiesta Bowl win over Kansas State, including the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles. Though Kelly appeared to be close to signing a deal with the Browns, none of the interviews panned out and Kelly walked away from the NFL for the second year in a row.
Of course, it’s likely Kelly’s name will come up again in the NFL coaching search next year. And maybe the year after that.
“If that happens, it happens,” Mullens said. “The reality is, when you’re 46-7 in four years, you’re going to draw a lot of attention. ... If we’re winning 11, 12, 13, 14 games, it’s something we’ll deal with.”