Chip Kelly’s name surfaced Tuesday as a possibility to join Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as offensive coordinator, but the former Oregon Ducks head coach has “no interest” in the Crimson Tide opening, according to a report Wednesday from Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
Citing an NFL source close to Kelly, Cole says the former head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers prefers to stay at the pro level.
Here’s a transcript of Cole’s brief update on Bleacher Report:
An NFL source close to Chip Kelly said Wednesday he has no interest in the Alabama offensive coordinator position in the aftermath of Steve Sarkisian taking over the same post with the Atlanta Falcons. Speculation about Kelly taking the post started immediately after Sarkisian left Alabama. For now, Kelly is focused on being in the NFL again as either a head coach or offensive coordinator.
Kelly was mentioned along with Mark Helfrich, his successor in Eugene, by Fox Sports senior college football writer Bruce Feldman as a possible replacement for Sarkisian as Tide OC.
Meanwhile, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter appeared on “Mike & Mike” Wednesday morning (audio link here) and said there have been conversations between Saban and Kelly, and that the latter is under consideration for the job.
“My understanding is that there have been some conversations that have occurred between Nick Saban and Chip Kelly,” Schefter said (via Business Insider). “Now, whether or not it is enough to materialize into Nick Saban offering the job, Chip Kelly accepting the job, that’s another issue. But I can tell there at least have been some conversations that have gone on over the last 24-48 hours between those two individuals.”
Added Schefter: “At the very least, my understanding is that Chip Kelly will be in consideration for that job and we will find out whether or not Nick Saban goes in that direction.”
Kelly, fired by the 49ers in January after just one season, was also tied to offensive coordinator openings with the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans.
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