On Tuesday there was plenty of buzz involving the Philadelphia Eagles and the decisions made by head coach and general manager Chip Kelly, former head coach of the Oregon Ducks. As someone who lives in the Philadelphia region, I can tell you the sports radio phone lines are melting as we speak after Kelly has successfully moved the franchise’s record-setting rusher (LeSean McCoy traded to Buffalo), allowed his top receiver to leave via free agency (Jeremy Maclin signed with Kansas City) and, most recently, traded starting quarterback Nick Foles to St. Louis in exchange for former Heisman Trophy winner and Oklahoma Sooner Sam Bradford after missing the entire 2014 season.
In a city that is already seeing the basketball team reconstruct the entire roster from the ground up, and replacing some of the freshly laid bricks in the process, the alert level involving the city’s top sports team is at a critical level right now. If Kelly’s master plan fails to play out as he may be envisioning, could Kelly be run out of town? That depends who you ask.
First and foremost, I believe Kelly has a plan in mind and it has only just started to unfold. At this stage, it is unfair to suggest Kelly is done making moves when free agency has just started and the NFL Draft has yet to run its course. I believe Kelly is making moves right now with a grand vision he is reluctant to share with the masses, but the pressure is starting to build for the Eagles and Kelly. Entering year three as a head coach in the NFL, Kelly has to start winning games and making postseason progress. Depending on what happens in the draft (Marcus Mariota still an option), we could potentially be seeing the abrupt end to the Chip Kelly NFL Experience. Kelly will quickly run out of excuses if things blow up this season. I am not a believer this will ultimately be the case, but if Kelly does get run out of town this year or next, then college would be the ideal landing spot.
If nothing else, the developments in Philadelphia will be something to keep an eye on for any major college football programs that could be taking a ride on the coaching carousel in 2015 or 2016. If the Eagles struggle, Kelly will still be a very attractive option for a college program and he would likely sign a new contract quickly if no longer employed in Philadelphia (assuming he doesn’t coach Temple or Penn or Villanova, of course).
As a college football fan, I would welcome the return of Kelly to my Saturday line-up. Would you?