While it wasn't all bad memories with Chip Kelly, the moves he made as head coach and general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles were enough to make him the shortest tenured coach in the last two decades.
That's why it's still hilarious to Eagles fans that some feel he could be a head coach in the NFL. Pro Football Focus writer Trevor Sikkema had Kelly on his list of five coordinators in 2025 who could make headlines, with a possibility of becoming a head coach again in the future with a good season.
"Under Kelly’s guidance, the Buckeyes won a national championship last year, with quarterback Will Howard blossoming down the stretch. Howard earned passing grades above 80.0 in five of his final eight games, including throughout the College Football Playoff. That success propelled Kelly back to the NFL as offensive coordinator for Pete Carroll’s Raiders.
If Kelly can unlock similar production from Geno Smith and light up the scoreboard in Las Vegas, it will make headlines, and his name will once again surface in head coaching conversations."
Eagles fans' advice to other NFL teams looking for a head coach in 2026: run from Kelly
From 2013 through 2015, Kelly had his good moments on the field with two consecutive 10-6 seasons to start his tenure, with one postseason appearance in his first year. The problems arose during the 2015 offseason, when key players such as LeSean McCoy, Nick Foles, and Jeremy Maclin were either traded or signed by other teams in free agency. One year prior, the departure of DeSean Jackson upset fans to the core.
What Eagles fans got instead in 2025 was Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, and Byron Maxwell, arguably three of the worst signings/trades in franchise history. It led to a disastrous 6-10 record, and Kelly was let go one game before the season ended, with Howie Roseman regaining his general manager job.
Kelly has been the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers for one year, coached at UCLA, and was the offensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He's currently the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Even Eagles fans can't deny how good of an offensive coach Kelly is. Philadelphia was in the top 12 in total offense in each of Kelly's three seasons as Eagles' head coach. It wasn't perfect, but he was creative enough to get the talent around him to perform at their best.
Philadelphia and San Francisco should be evidence enough that Kelly shouldn't run a franchise. He's good at the offensive coordinator position and should stay there.
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But if a particular New York Giants head coaching job should open in 2026, maybe give Kelly a call or two. Eagles fans wouldn't mind beating him twice a season.