49ers Hire Chip Kelly as New Head Coach

The 49ers announced today that the team has found its third new head coach in three years: Chip Kelly.

Kelly, 52, will be coming from the opposite coast, where he's been the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for the last three seasons. Before that, he was a college coach for 22 years -- leaving his position as the head of the University of Oregon's team when the NFL came calling. If you truly want a much (much) deeper dive into his coaching history, the 49ers' official announcement has plenty for you. What the announcement doesn't mention is that Kelly was fired by the Eagles in December, despite having two years left on his contract there.

He comes to California as the 49ers have been scrambling after their own series of head coach terminations.

Former coach Jim Harbaugh said on a podcast last year that his exit to the University of Michigan was not as "mutual" as initially put forward. "I didn’t leave the 49ers. I felt like the 49er hierarchy left me," he said. When the next head coach, Jim Tomsula, was let go earlier this month, after just one season, Harbaugh appeared to have some cryptic pointed remarks aimed at his former assistant coach.

Harbaugh hasn't had anything to say so far about Kelly's hire, but plenty of other people do, particularly about whether or not Kelly will be able to change directions for the struggling 49ers and fit with the culture of the team.

Because Kelly was rumored to be looking to sign quarterback Colin Kaepernick before he left Philadelphia, many are theorizing this could mean the return of the QB. 49er wide receiver Torrey Smith was the first player to comment publicly on the hire. He noted that the high-speed play Kelly is known for might mean a new kind of fitness training for the players.