2024 is going to be a big year for coaching hires. With eight teams firing their head coaches and even more moving on from offensive coordinators, there are a lot of openings available for the new wave of coaches. While guys like Jim Harbaugh and Bill Belichick are stealing the headlines, a recent report by Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports indicates that Chip Kelly could be coming back to the NFL. Kelly, of course, spent three seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and one year with the San Francisco 49ers.
It’s worth noting that Jones’ report indicates that teams would only be interested in hiring Chip Kelly as an offensive coordinator, and that’s probably for the best. Back in 2013, Kelly entered the NFL following a 46-7 stint with Oregon. The coach had what was widely considered to be one of the most advanced offenses in the game, and his scheme translated well to the NFL. During his first two years in the pros, Kelly went 20-12 while guiding Nick Foles to the best season of his career.
However, the wheels fell off the wagon when the Eagles effectively gave Kelly full control of the roster. The team quickly imploded, as Kelly went 6-9 in 2015 before losing his job before the season finale. He moved on to a talentless San Francisco 49ers team, going 2-14 before returning to the college ranks.
REPORT: Chip Kelly Could Return to the NFL
Chip Kelly’s previous stops show that he should not be an NFL head coach, or have any say over a roster. However, his offensive scheme is still a good one and could be a good fit for a team looking for someone capable of kickstarting an offense, especially one with an athletic quarterback. Kelly should not be the face of any organization, and it’s hard to say with any certainty where he could go when most teams have yet to hire their next head coach. However, with that disclaimer listed, these five teams could go after him.
Carolina Panthers
Chip Kelly probably isn’t anyone’s first choice for offensive coordinator, and the Carolina Panthers are not anybody’s first choice of organization. Because of that, these two are an ironic match made in heaven. The Panthers will likely have to get a second-rate coach thanks to David Tepper’s notoriety around the league, and Kelly is probably the best of the bunch. Even going beyond Tepper’s influence, Kelly’s scheme could work wonders for second-year quarterback Bryce Young. The Alabama product had a rookie season to forget, but perhaps an offense built around his athletic ability could unleash his potential.
New England Patriots
Bill O’Brien is going to Ohio State, which means first-year head coach Jerod Mayo will have to find his own offensive coordinator. With Josh McDaniels likely following Bill Belichick to his next head coaching destination, this means Mayo will have to bring in somebody outside the organization. Right now, New England has the third-overall pick in the NFL Draft, and they’ll likely use that selection on LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels is an athletic quarterback, and Kelly’s scheme could bring out the best in the presumptive third-overall pick. Additionally, for whatever it’s worth, Belichick and Chip Kelly supposedly have mutual respect, and seeing as Mayo came from Belichick’s coaching tree, then perhaps these two have a similar relationship.
Chicago Bears
Nobody knows what the Chicago Bears are going to do with the first-overall pick. While conventional wisdom suggests they’ll trade Justin Fields and move forward with Caleb Williams, the team may hold on to their current quarterback. However, no matter which player they select, both could benefit under Chip Kelly. Fields and Williams both possess rocket arms and above-average athleticism, which are necessities in Kelly’s scheme.
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr is going to be around for at least one more season, but 2023 offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is not. The team parted ways with Carmichael, which means that Chip Kelly could fill in the missing spot. Carr does not fit the typical mold of a Chip Kelly quarterback, but it’s worth noting that Kelly has found success with pocket passers. After all, he was the man calling the plays in 2013 when Nick Foles threw 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions. Carr won’t be THAT efficient with Kelly, but it’s hard to get worse than Carmichael.
Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson has not looked anything like his old self ever since he arrived in Cleveland. However, thanks to his fully guaranteed contract, Cleveland has no choice but to stick with him while scapegoating the coaching staff for the quarterback’s shortcomings. Watson is probably broken beyond repair, but Chip Kelly has the best odds of anyone at fixing him. Getting Watson on the move and reducing his reads is Step 1 in trying to get Watson back to playing like he did in Houston, and Kelly’s scheme excels at this.
Main Photo: Robert Hanashiro – USA Today Sports
