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Chip Kelly likely to be hired as Florida Gators head coach

By George Stockburger

BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly looks out onto the field during the third quarter of the game against the Boise State Broncos on September 3, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 19-8. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 3: Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly looks out onto the field during the third quarter of the game against the Boise State Broncos on September 3, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won the game 19-8. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Chip Kelly has not been on the sideline all season since being fired by the 49ers

Three weeks after firing Jim McElwain the University of Florida is expected to name Chip Kelly their next head coach.

First confirmation of Kelly going to Florida came from former Philadelphia radio personality Nick Kayal on Twitter. Ben Albright also confirmed that two sources have linked Kelly and Florida. Airline records also connected the Florida Gators private jet flying into New England and back.

Kelly has spent the season working weekends for ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut and is spending his weekdays at home in New Hampshire. The flight went to Ocala airport, which is in the town where Florida’s athletic director Scott Strickland’s family lives.

No official announcement has been made by either ESPN, Florida, or Kelly.

Kelly was a likely candidate for UCLA, which would have returned him to the PAC-12 where he dominated as the head coach of the Oregon Ducks. Florida, who has been linked to Kelly since firing McIlwain, likely saw the UCLA job become available Sunday morning and rushed to get Kelly in-house.

The 53-year-old coach was on ESPN Sunday morning and addressed the rumors regarding Florida, and did anything but deny the rumors.

After collecting a 46-7 record with a Fiesta Bowl victory at Oregon Kelly was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles to replace Andy Reid. Kelly took Philadelphia to the playoffs in his first season, but was fired after his third season.

San Francisco gave Kelly a chance the following season, but moved on after a 2-14 season.

Kelly is much more suited to coach the college game where he can use his influence to push a unique offense and sports science on his student-athletes. He’ll have quarterback Luke Del Rio coming off an injury and former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire leaving after the 2017 season.

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