Eagles Fire Head Coach Chip Kelly

Print

Published on December 30 2015 6:13 am
Last Updated on December 30 2015 6:13 am

The Chip Kelly revolution ended before it ever really began. The Philadelphia Eagles abruptly fired Kelly on Tuesday night, five days before the final game of the 2015 regular season. Kelly's Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost to the Washington Redskins on Saturday night.

That loss dropped the Eagles to 6-9. They were 2-5 over their past seven games, including losses in which they surrendered 45 points twice and 40 points once. Kelly's record in nearly three seasons as Eagles head coach was 26-21.

Kelly told Fox Sports on Tuesday night that he didn't fight owner Jeffrey Lurie's decision to fire him. He also told Fox Sports that he wants to stay in the NFL rather than return to college coaching.

"We appreciate all the contributions that Chip Kelly made and wish him every success going forward," Lurie said in a statement released by the team.

Sources told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that Lurie had been thinking for weeks about making changes in the team's structure, including stripping Kelly of personnel control.

That suggestion was made to Kelly when he met with Lurie recently, sources said, and Kelly balked at the idea.

Sources said Lurie made the decision to part ways with Kelly on Tuesday morning. That will allow the Eagles to get a jump on some of the hot assistant coaches who will be available, including Sean McDermott, the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator who once held the same title with the Eagles.

 

Jaguars' Bradley To Continue As Head Coach

Jaguars owner Shad Khan has gone through five head coaches in two years with the London soccer team he owns, but he's sticking with just one in Jacksonville -- for now.

Khan announced Tuesday afternoon that he is bringing Gus Bradley back for at least one more season, though Bradley will face much higher expectations in 2016, which is the final year of his contract.

"I spoke to Gus Bradley today to confirm to him that he will continue as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. It's evident to see how far we've come in many aspects of our game, and Gus deserves a lot of credit for that progress," Khan said in a statement. "It's also evident the considerable work that remains to be done to be where we expect to be at this time next season, which is well above where we stand today. And Gus understands that.

[General manager] Dave Caldwell and I also spoke today and we are both confident that Gus will make 2016 the best year of his career. In the meantime, I expect his coaching staff and team to respond favorably to this news in preparation for Houston on Sunday and then begin thinking about what more they can provide next season. We have high ambitions."

 

Sunday, January 3 Schedule (All Times Central)

New York at Buffalo, noon

New England at Miami, noon

New Orleans at Atlanta, noon

Baltimore at Cincinnati, noon

Pittsburgh at Cleveland, noon

Jacksonville at Houston, noon

Tennessee at Indianapolis, noon

Washington at Dallas, noon

Philadelphia at New York, noon

Detroit at Chicago, noon

Tampa Bay at Carolina, 3:25 p.m.

Oakland at Kansas City, 3:25 p.m.

San Diego at Denver, 3:25 p.m.

Seattle at Arizona, 3:25 p.m.

St. Louis at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.

Minnesota at Green Bay, 7:30 p.m.