A new report claims that Chip Kelly’s time with UCLA is guaranteed to end this season and could come as soon as this week.
There was a time when Chip Kelly was viewed as one of the very best football coaches in the nation. Fifteen years ago he was able to turn Oregon into one of the top programs in the sport and a destination for high-level talent. Unsurprisingly, he was able to parlay that success into a run in the NFL as the coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013.
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However, after two strong seasons as head coach, Kelly wore out his welcome in Philly and was sent packing after one losing season. A failed stint as the head coach for a two-win San Francisco 49ers team in 2016 promptly ended his time in the top football league in the land. Like many former college coaches who failed in the NFL before him, he eventually made his way back to the college ranks six years ago with UCLA.
Despite his disappointing run in the NFL, Kelly’s arrival at UCLA gave Bruins fans hope that he could bring the same coaching and recruiting magic he showed at Oregon to one of the most prestigious sports schools on the West Coast. Unfortunately, Kelly’s tenure in Los Angeles has been a serious letdown.
Chip Kelly expected to be fired by UCLA in the coming weeks
After three losing seasons, Kelly was able to get the program back to prominence when they went 9-4 in 2021. However, that was a peak moment they have not been able to surpass since. Now with the team in the midst of a 6-4 season and no clear signs things will get better any time soon, it seems that the 59-year-old’s days running the program will soon be over.
On Tuesday, Bruin Report claimed, “It’s now very realistic — and even likely — that UCLA will fire Chip Kelly after the USC game, according to many sources close to the situation.”
The outlet did suggest that a victory could push a firing to after the season, but either way, Kelly will be done with the school at the close of the 2023 season.
Heading into Week 12 of the college football season, Kelly has a 33-33 record leading the UCLA Bruins after going 42-7 over four seasons with the Oregon Ducks.