NFL Coaching Search: Gus Malzahn The Next Chip Kelly?

Four games remain in the NFL schedule.  That is how long several head coaches have left to live.  Conversations will start soon about which names deserve prime consideration for taking over those jobs.  One that should start gaining some traction fairly soon is Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn.

Naturally people will be focused on his teams’ tough 55-44 defeat at the hands of Alabama in the Iron Bowl but as time passes that will be lessened by the big picture.  Malzahn has quickly developed a reputation as one of the great offensive innovators in college football, installing a no-huddle attack that hits defenses in a variety of ways and racks up points and yards like a pinball machine.  The fact that his unit torched the Crimson Tide for over 600 yards and 44 points, a defense coached by Nick Saban, says it all.

What will NFL teams see when his name comes up?  Well if they have any common sense the image of Chip Kelly will arise instantly.  The current head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles rose to prominence in much the same way at Oregon.  He developed a lightning-fast offense teams couldn’t stop and did a lot of winning.  Since then he has brought that to the pros and is sending defensive coordinators scrambling for answers.

Gus Malzahn is on the same track.  If he has ambitions beyond Auburn then it won’t be hard to find a pro opportunity sooner than later.

He can thank Chip Kelly for pioneering that pathway.