Chip Kelly Interviewed with the 49ers, Are the Titans Even Interested?
By Jason McIntyre
The most interesting coach in the NFL, Chip Kelly, interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers head coaching vacancy. It’s not an attractive job. The current 49ers don’t remotely resemble the team Jim Harbaugh took to three NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl. In fact, they have one of the least talented rosters in the NFL.
They play in the toughest division in the NFL, led by the loaded Seahawks (two Super Bowl trips in a row) and the nearly-as-loaded Arizona Cardinals. The St. Louis Rams, destined for .500-ish seasons as long as Jeff Fisher remains head coach, have more talent on defense alone than the 49ers have on the entire roster.
And let’s not forget that the 49ers have a GM, Trent Baalke, who three years ago was hailed as 1/2 of an architect of the 2nd best roster in the NFL, but now he’s just known as the guy who ran off Jim Harbaugh.
Your quarterback? Blaine Gabbert. San Francisco does have the 7th pick in the draft (but QB-needy Cleveland has the 2nd pick). Colin Kaepernick is in the discussion, but they’d want him to re-do his contract. Would he be up for that?
Peter King speculated the Giants could be a landing spot for Chip Kelly. The Browns don’t have a coach. The Bucs are probably locked on Dirk Koetter, and the Dolphins as usual don’t know what they’re doing.
And then there’s Tennessee.
It seems like the most likely option simply because of one player: Marcus Mariota. But why are the Titans dragging their feet? They still don’t have a general manager. Can’t make a move on a coach without a GM (unless you’re the Browns, in which case, who cares!).
That leaves Kelly in a precarious spot. Does he wait around for the Titans – and possibly miss out on the 49ers opening; and all of the openings – or just jump at whatever he can get?
Also, there’s this to consider, from an Eagles beat writer:
“I think the 49ers is Chip’s only shot. I spoke to someone familiar with Titans situation and they said ‘cold day in hell’” - @Jeff_McLane
— 975 Mornings (@975Mornings) January 8, 2016
Not sure who that could possibly come from in Tennessee. Not sure I believe it, but if Kelly doesn’t jump at the 49ers opening … we may find out next week.