By Annie Ross
Chip Kelly, fired 16 days ago as Eagles head coach, was hired today by the San Francisco 49ers to be the team’s new head coach.
Kelly established a 26-21 record in three years with the Eagles but was fired when the team was eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16.
The 49ers had also interviewed former NFL head coach Mike Shanahan, former New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin, Buffalo Bills assistant head coach/running backs coach Anthony Lynn, former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson (since hired by the Cleveland Browns) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.
In San Francisco, Kelly will try to turn around a team that went 5-11 this season and ranked 31st in total offense as well as last in scoring. Among the franchise’s biggest decisions will be how to handle quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was benched for Blaine Gabbert and later placed on injured reserve.
Kelly replaces Jim Tomsula, who was fired after one season as head coach of the 49ers.
