Chip Kelly Has Had Fewer Roster Changes Than Other Coaches Who Started in 2013

Yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles released pro bowl guard Evan Mathis, who had not been at the OTAs while wanting a new contract. The 34-year-old guard instead will find an opportunity to look elsewhere.

That move also prompted commentary on Chip Kelly’s propensity to turn over his roster, especially as it related to players who were there before his arrival.

Howie Roseman added 23 new players thru FA/NFL Draft during 2011 offseason. Chip Kelly has cut/traded all but one of them. (Kelce) #Eagles
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) June 11, 2015

By my count, only 14 players are left over from the Andy Reid regime when CK took over in 2013.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) June 11, 2015

It’s not as if Kelly woke up on Thursday morning and realized that Mathis was one of Roseman’s guys. He just has an intolerance for people not committed to the way he wants things done.

But let’s ask this–how different is Kelly compared to when other teams have coaching turnover? Every coach wants “their own guys,” and the differences come up with just who those guys are.

That note about 14 guys still being in Philadelphia may sound like the Eagles have been turning over the roster at historic rates, but you need context.

So let’s provide that. Seven other teams changed coaches the same offseason that Kelly went to Philadelphia. Using the roster info on pro-football-reference.com for the 2012 season, and comparing it to the current roster listed on each team’s website, I pulled the other seven.

Here are the number of players on each roster from both 2012 and currently.

Buffalo Bills – 15 players
Cleveland Browns – 14 players*
Philadelphia Eagles – 14 PLAYERS
San Diego Chargers – 13 players
Kansas City Chiefs – 12 players
Jacksonville Jaguars – 9 players*
Arizona Cardinals – 9 players*
Chicago Bears – 8 players

The other seven teams have an average of 11 players on their roster from the 2012 season, fewer than the Eagles. The asterisks denote three teams that have a player on the suspended list: Josh Gordon of Cleveland, Justin Blackmon of Jacksonville, and Daryl Washington of Arizona.

The Bears are now on another coach after firing Marc Trestman after two years, and have had the most turnover over the last three off-seasons. The Cardinals, meanwhile, have won a similar number of games to the Eagles, have moved on from plenty of veterans, and have a coach who is also not afraid to ruffle feathers, but you probably didn’t realize they have more turnover than in Philadelphia.