After it became clear weeks ago that Chip Kelly’s first season as the San Francisco 49ers head coach was not going to be successful one, rumors began to swirl that the former Oregon coach might be eyeing a return to the college ranks.
Kelly attempted to quell those rumors during his press conference on Monday, saying that he has no plans to leave the NFL and confirmed an Adam Schefter report from earlier this week that he is not planning a return to Oregon or any other college.
“It’s always been accurate. And I don’t have any representatives that are telling anybody anything,” Kelly told reporters. “I haven’t talked to a college since I’ve been in the NFL and that’s not my goal. My goal is to be the head coach of the 49ers and that’s where I want to be.”
“I don’t know why. It surprises me that that continues to be a new story. It’s been the same story since I left four years ago. I’m not looking to go back and that’s what I’ve always said. So I don’t know how it’s stayed a story.”
Notable University of Oregon booster, and close Kelly friend, Phil Knight’s presence on the 49er sideline two weeks ago only exacerbated the rumors that Kelly might be contemplating a return to Eugene. Kelly downplayed any greater significance behind Knight’s presence at the game.
“Phil’s come to my games in Philly and it wasn’t an issue. Phil’s a great friend of mine. I mean, the fact that a friend of mine came to watch one of my games…When we played the San Francisco 49ers (when he coached) the Philadelphia Eagles, he came to the game… I’ve got a lot of friends to come to games.”
Kelly also claimed that he did not receive any offers to coach at the collegiate ranks after he was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles after last season.
“I didn’t have any opportunities at any other level. This is what I looked at when I was out. There was nothing at that time, either. I think when you get done in the NFL season–we get done in late-January–there’s really not many jobs open at the college level. I mean, I would’ve taken anything. I would’ve loved to take a job at the newspaper or… media.”
