Philadelphia, PA

Oregon coach Chip Kelly has now agreed to coach the Philadelphia Eagles.

He previously turned down the Eagles after a nine-hour meeting Jan. 5 in Arizona, to stay with Oregon and also spurned the Browns.

Kelly changed his mind at the NCAA coaches' convention in Nashville Jan. 8 and had a talk with Roseman at dinner.

The source said Roseman reestablished contact, but having been burned once, the Eagles were ready to offer Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley the job.

Kelly fits team chairman Jeffrey Lurie's specification of a young, offensive-minded innovator Lurie to replace fired 14-year coach Andy Reid. His biggest negative is that he never played or coached in the NFL.

If Kelly's Oregon setup is any indication, he will focus on offense and hire someone to run his defense and won't meddle.

"Chip has not said one word to me on the headset in four years as a head coach," said Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti. "He's left me completely alone. It's been unbelievable autonomy. It's been a fantastic relationship. I really appreciate it."

Sean McDonnell, head coach at Kelly's alma mater, the University of New Hampshire, where Kelly was an assistant from 1994-2006, compared him to quarterback with a gambling mindset.

"He's Brett Favre. I want that in a coach. I want someone who is playing every game to win, even if it costs him a few," said McDonnell.

Aliotti is confident that with Kelly's focuson football, he will thrive with the more demanding workload at the NFL, unlike other college coaches who failed while transitioning to the NFL.

"He's a football junkie. he's not married, he has no kids. That allows for a lot of football," Aliotti said.

 

Chip Kelly leaves Oregon to coach NFL's Eagles

 

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