Chip Kelly 'Understands' College Rumors, But Hopes To End Them
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- USC, Texas, South Carolina, Maryland. Wherever.
The Chip Kelly "back-to-college" narrative pops every year and Kelly understands, until he develops a consistent track record of success in the NFL, he's going to have to answer the questions.
"I know you have an obligation, and I understand that it's going to happen [when] we're not successful and we're not winning," Kelly told reporters on Thursday. "I came from college, [so the assumption is] I'm going to go back to college. I hope someday to be like [Giants] Coach [Tom] Coughlin and win enough games where I can stay around long enough without speculation. But I understand you have to ask the question, but I answered it the same way a year ago and I answered it the same way my first year here."
The first school Kelly was speculatively attached to was USC, after his friend Steve Sarkisian was fired following a disappointing loss to Washington.
"It's an unfortunate part of the game because the other part of it is there are people who have lost their jobs, and somebody, a friend of mine in Steve Sarkisian, is dealing with a big issue right now, and I wish him the best out of the whole thing," Kelly said. "And that's how I look at that situation."
While Kelly somewhat accepts and deals with the college speculation, he says it has no effect on his players.
"Our players could care less about it.," Kelly said. "That's my guess. I don't think they're---I don't think Jason Kelce is really concerned because my name came up with a college. I mean, he's concerned about going against [Giants defensive coordinator] Steve Spagnuolo's defense, which is what's first and foremost on our team right now."