When 49ers head coach Chip Kelly signed a four-year, $24 million contract this offseason, the expectation was that he’d last longer than his predecessor Jim Tomsula. For some, however, the Niners abysmal start to the 2016 season has thrown Kelly’s return next season in doubt, and he didn’t do anything to quell that idea during his press conference on Monday.
Kelly stated that he had not spoken with Jed York regarding his job security beyond this season, and when asked if he expected to be the Niners head coach in 2017, refused to directly answer.
Here’s a transcript of the exchange — the reporter, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, in bold, Kelly in quotes underneath.
You’re obviously 1-9, everybody’s job security comes into question. At your introductory press conference Jed York said you were gonna be the head coach for a long time. Have you gotten assurances from Jed that you are going to be here next year?
“We haven’t had any conversations about that at all. About anybody’s job security.”
Do you expect to be here next year?
“Do you?”
Do I expect to be in my job next year?
“Yeah.”
I hope so, I’ve got a performance review coming up in December
“That makes two of us.”
CEO Jed York said during Kelly’s introductory press conference that he would be the 49ers’ head coach for a “long time.” However, a four-year contract was also what Tomsula signed before getting the axe after just one season. Tomsula’s Niners went 5-11, while Kelly is 1-9 so far this season and mired in a franchise record-tying nine-game losing streak.
