Chip Kelly to Coach Philadelphia Eagles

Oregon coach Chip Kelly will be the new head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Both NFL.com and ESPN reported that Kelly was hired. The team itself later confirmed that Kelly was hired on their website.

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Kelly, 49, had been with the University of Oregon since 2007 and was head coach of the team for the last four years. During his time with the Ducks, Kelly complied a 46-7 (.868) record.

Before joining the University of Oregon, Kelly was the defensive coordinator of New Hampshire, his alma mater, from 1999-2006. He also served as the school's offensive line coach from 1997 to 1998 and its running backs coach from 1994 to 1996.

Kelly met with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, team president Don Smolenski and general manager Howie Roseman early during the team's head coach search in Arizona. He met with the team for almost nine hours after the Fiesta Bowl.

“Chip Kelly will be an outstanding head coach for the Eagles,” said Lurie. “He has a brilliant football mind. He motivates his team with his actions as well as his words. He will be a great leader for us and will bring a fresh energetic approach to our team.”

The Philadelphia Eagles stated the following about Kelly in an official press release: 

 Over the years, Kelly has developed an aggressive offensive strategy and system. Kelly is one of the most progressive thinkers in football today. A stronger leader with an innovative football mind was at the top of Lurie’s list when he outlined the characteristics he was seeking in a coach when he launched the search.
 
Under Kelly in 2012, Oregon averaged nearly 50 points per game (49.6) and his four-year scoring average with the Ducks was a whopping 44.7 points per contest.
 
His first coaching job was with Columbia University where he was the outside linebackers coach and the strong safeties coach in 1991. In 1993, he was the defensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins University.
 
Kelly graduated from New Hampshire with a BS in Physical Education in 1990.
 
The Eagles will introduce the new head coach to its fans as soon as arrangements can be made.
 

This will be Kelly's first head coaching job in the NFL.

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