Chip Kelly Says He Has No Interest In Returning To Oregon
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly said Wednesday that he has no interest in the Oregon Ducks coaching job and has not spoken to anyone associated with the program about it.
Kelly was head coach at Oregon from 2009 to 2012, compiling a 46-7 record. He won at least a share of the conference title every season he was head coach and led the Ducks to the 2011 BCS national championship game, where they lost to Auburn.
Oregon fired Kelly's successor , Mark Helfrich, on Tuesday after four seasons and a 37-16 record. The Ducks went 4-8 this season, their first losing season since 2004.
Kelly said he spoke to Helfrich on Wednesday morning to offer support.
"I just felt bad for Mark, I love him like a brother," Kelly said. "He's a tremendous person. He is a hell of a football coach but he's even a better person. So I just felt for him and the rest of the guys on that staff. It's an unfortunate thing that goes on in this profession, we all know when we sign up for it, but when it happens you're still kind of taken aback by it."
When asked if he was still happy in San Francisco, Kelly simply said, "Yep."
Kelly said no one from Oregon has contacted him about the job or asked for his input on hiring a new coach.
"I have not spoken to anybody at Oregon except for Mark Helfrich," Kelly said. "I love everybody associated with the university, they were fantastic. But my thoughts are with (Helfrich) right now."