E. Paul Kelly, father of 49ers head coach Chip Kelly, passed away last Friday at the age of 87.
Chip Kelly joined the Murph and Mac Show on Friday morning to talk about his late father, and how he’s been coping with the sadness.
“Any time you get sorrowful or start to think about crying I just remind myself,” Kelly paused. “I got the news when I was on the plane, and I couldn’t get off the plane. So we had to fly to Chicago, and I didn’t tell anybody but i’d just found out he’d passed away. So you try and tell yourself, I remember the quote from Andy Andrews that said, ‘the seeds of depression cannot take root in a thankful heart.’
Kelly visited his family in Massachusetts soon after hearing the news on Friday, and also after Sunday’s loss to the Bears. Kelly talked about what it was like to coach under the circumstances, and also the support he’s recieved from the York family and 49ers players.
“It was hard,” Kelly said. “First and foremost the York’s were fantastic here in terms of letting me get back on Friday to be with my mom on Saturday, my brothers and then come back for the game.”
“Our players were great. As I said earlier in the week, I’m not the only person who’s ever lost anybody. Everybody has experienced it, and when I got back Saturday night to the hotel and had a chance to visit with them they were awesome. Guys like Torrey Smith and Jeremy Kerley who’ve lost brothers were just great to talk to those guys and share feelings with them and what you were going through. The players here were unbelievable.”
Kelly went on to praise the York’s at length for their kindness and the impact they’ve made on his life.
“Obviously our record isn’t what anybody wants it to be, but I don’t think that diminishes what a class act the whole York family is. You look at how they helped me in my times of need or what they do here with the 49er foundation in terms of their impact in the community. Understanding that owning a football team, the football team is obviously the focal point, but the impact you can have on a community. The statement I think about is when people take a look at you when you die, and look at your gravestone, your won / loss record isn’t going to be on it. It’s gonna be on the impact you made in the community. I know the York family has made a tremendous impact just in my life in the short time I’ve been here.”
Kelly’s father was the son of immigrants who greatly valued education, and was the first in his family to attend college. He spent time in Japan as a professor of English and Philosophy while also studying to be a Jesuit preist.
“I think it had a big impact on his life,” Kelly said.
Listen to the full interview below.
