NFL Rumor: Chip Kelly ask to get out of his contract

Submitted by Michigan4Life on

According to this guy:

 

DarrenDegaetano's avatar

I have been told #Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has expressed interest in getting out of his contract.

 

He's the one who reported that Tom Gamble was out before it happened. If Michigan didn't get Harbaugh (moot point anyway), Chip Kelly would've been a HR Plan B candidate hire.

JamieH

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:11 PM ^

Chip Kelly would have been an A+ hire no matter what.  Thrilled beyond belief to have Harbaugh, but I would have taken Chip Kelly, no questions asked.

 

Wonder what Kelly is up to?  He seemed to be doing OK in Philly.

Gustavo Fring

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

I think Chip is a hell of a football coach, but based on what are you implying that he woudl have been a better hire than Harbaugh?

Chip's college resume is (slightly) better than Harbaugh's, but that's without context.  Harbaugh resurrected a moribund Stanford program and was a national title contender.  Chip did have a national title appearance and a stellar record, but recruiting at Nike-backed Oregon vs Stanford is a night and day difference.  He had way more resources.  

In the pro's, Harbaugh has had a slightly better performance than Chip.  Chip took a 4-12 Eagles team to the division title in his first year and won 10 games both seasons, but Harbaugh immediately took the 49ers to (the first of three) NFC Championship games and coached in a Super Bowl.  Again, the 49ers probably had more talent immediately, but these are important facts to note.  I suppose the major difference is that Chip called his own plays in Philly, while Harbaugh delegated playcalling to Roman (though it appears he won't do so here).

It's close, but I would say they are about equal.  Both have done great work wtih quarterbacks, dominated the PAC-10, and turned around underperforming NFL teams.  One lost in a NCG, the other lost in a Super Bowl and both have rarely lost.  

JamieH

January 2nd, 2015 at 4:19 PM ^

Never said for a second that I wanted Chip Kelly more than Harbaugh.  Harbaugh was definitely the best option.  Just said that there is no universe where Chip Kelly wouldn't have been an A+ hire.  If we had been in a situation where Harbaugh had been a question mark and Kelly had said he would sign today, I would have been tempted to say take him.  But luckily we didn't have to face that decision. 

Tater

January 2nd, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^

Sadly, "the crowd" didn't shut up.  Luckily, Hackett went out and got the only coach with a Michigan pedigree and a pro-style offense who is capable of turning Michigan back into Michigan.  Harbuagh has proven that he can play against elite spread teams and win.  Most notably, he beat Oregon 51-42 in 2009, though he did lose to them three times.

We'll see how football evolves the next few years.  I think Harbaugh will always have an open mind for offense because he is driven and isn't afraid to tweak either side of the ball if it means his team wins more games.

Either way, in some form, the spread and its influence are here to stay.

Gustavo Fring

January 2nd, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^

Some would say that he prefers mobile QB's.  Going all the way back to Josh Johnson, Harbaugh has rarelt ever had a qb with average or below-average speed for the position.  Johnson, Luck, Smith, Kaepernick all had wheels, and so does Brian hogan.  

So not only does it appear that Harbaugh would adapt to a spread qb, he might even actively try to find one.  

Gustavo Fring

January 2nd, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^

Some would say that he prefers mobile QB's.  Going all the way back to Josh Johnson, Harbaugh has rarelt ever had a qb with average or below-average speed for the position.  Johnson, Luck, Smith, Kaepernick all had wheels, and so does Brian hogan.  

So not only does it appear that Harbaugh would adapt to a spread qb, he might even actively try to find one.  

Get Jim Harbaugh

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^

Chip definitely would have been great, but the transition would have been a bitch. We would have had to go through another three-year rebuilding plan with the same types of guys that RR recruited, which is the opposite of what Hoke & Co. recruited.

trustBlue

January 2nd, 2015 at 4:11 PM ^

I seriously doubt this.  Although Chip's career at Oregon featured a very RR-esque, up tempo, zone read offense at Oregon, Chip doesn't run the Oregon offense in Phily.  So much so that he immediately dupmped the only mobile QB on the roster the minute he arrived.  

The most important thing that Jim and Chip have in common is that they build their offense around the strengths and weakness of the QBs they have rather than try force players to conform to their desired offense.  Although Chip likes to spread the field and attack you with tempo, he has been equally successful with mobile QBs as with statue-esque guys like Nick Foles.  Likewise, even though Harbaugh likes to run power/pro-style offense, he's been equally successful with Andrew Luck as he was with mobile types like Colin Kapernick.

RR was determined to run a zone read no matter what, Nick Sheridan be damned.  Likewise, Hoke was determined to run Manball - or whatever the hell that was supposed to be - even if that meant trying to force a 5* dual threat QB to be a pocket passer.  If you're going to force players to fit your offense, yeah its going to take 3-4 years to recruit and develop your guys. But if you are an Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly, Jim Harbaugh you know how to build you offense to fit the guys that you have.

 

MGoPoe

January 2nd, 2015 at 5:31 PM ^

Not so fast, they have $151 MM committed to players next year with Gore, Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks, and 3-4 other defensive starters going to FA this offseason at least.  That team is primed for another step back next season.  I'd go to the Bears or Buffalo were I looking for an NFL job, at least at Buffalo Kelly can bring in w/e QB he wants.

Jkidd49

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^

there is zero truth to this rumor... this is none-sense speculation from a guy with a "source".  Nothing about this clowns history, profile or expereince cause me to take any of this seriously. Haven't we learned our lesson about "sources" yet?

Ghost of Hoke

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:18 PM ^

Well if you read the thread he qualified the guy by saying he's been a credible source before. But flip out and get angry over meaningless, fun speculation at a minimum.

txmichigan

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:17 PM ^

They fired a personnel guy this week who was close with Chip.  A lot of people viewed that as first sign of a power struggle between Kelly and the GM.  Can't imagine why the organization would side with the GM in that situation but apparently that's how NFL franchises operate these days.  

SeattleWolverine

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^

Yep. Additional background:

 

http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-front-offi…

 

http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2014/12/firing_of_tom_gamble_a_win_f…

 

The 49ers are certainly the most attractive job open if Kelly were to get out of Philly, which is a bit ironic since this situation sounds fairly similar to what happened there with a front office schism.

mgoblue0970

January 2nd, 2015 at 4:25 PM ^

Could the Eagles be approaching 49er-level stupidity in fucking with Chip? The NFL is a wins business. Owners let their $$$-fueled egos get in the way of coaches who win, but don't kiss owner ass.

Michigan4Life

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:35 PM ^

they'd say both are equals for different reasons. Chip Kelly because of his innovations and willingness to go against the grain. Harbaugh because of his competitiveness and ability to get most out of his players.

To say that Harbaugh is superior than Kelly is being a homer to be honest. I would take both as a HC and be extremely happy with the hire.