The Philadelphia Eagles fired head coach Chip Kelly on Tuesday night before with a week left in a disappointing season for the team. According to ESPN, the team released a statement about the move, thanking Kelly for his time with the team and announcing that Pat Shurmur will take over as interim head coach for the final game of the season.
Kelly's job status has been up in the air all season with the Eagles struggling and that culminated in owner Jeffrey Lurie opting to fire the head coach. According to Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, Lurie has been looking to make changes to the "structure of the team," including keeping Kelly and possibly taking team personnel control away from the head coach. Kelly reportedly did not want to give up control of the roster and that led to the change in direction for the franchise.
Paolantonio reported that Lurie made the move with Kelly now so that the team can start talking to the main assistant coach candidates around the league. There could be a number of coaching changes this offseason and the Eagles now will get the jump on things. According to NFL.com, DeMarco Murray told Lurie that the team had "lost confidence" Kelly in a meeting that occurred earlier in the season. Murray has not hidden his frustrations with Kelly's offense and his role on the team this season and the running back likely is glad that the team is making a change.
Kelly took control of the roster this year and made a number of significant moves, including trading for Sam Bradford, trading away LeSean McCoy and signing DeMarco Murray as a free agent. Kelly also had his hand in the release of DeSean Jackson, another move that has not quite worked out for the Eagles. All of that led to Kelly getting fired and now the man he pushed out of the job of building the roster, Howie Roseman, could be put back in charge of things. Kelly started off strong during his run in Philly, but the incremental steps back led to Lurie making a move.
The Eagles now are moving forward without Kelly and a major question for next season is whether Sam Bradford will return or not in 2016. Kelly traded for Bradford and the quarterback will be a free agent and it will be up to the new regime in Philadelphia to decide whether or not Bradford is the guy for the franchise. Bradford has been up and down this season, but with Kelly going out, a new coach could want to keep Bradford, a former number one overall pick. The Eagles now will look for a new head coach.
