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Cross Chip off the list: USC announces Clay Helton is head coach

AP

Any speculation that Eagles coach Chip Kelly — or any other NFL coach — could leave to coach USC can end. The Trojans have announced that Clay Helton, their interim head coach for most this season, will lose the interim tag and become the permanent head coach going forward.

When USC fired Steve Sarkisian this year, there was widespread speculation that Kelly could be interested in the job. That speculation only intensified as the Eagles’ season collapsed.

But USC Athletic Director Pat Haden announced today that Helton will keep the job. Helton has done solid work this season, leading the Trojans to a 5-2 record in the seven games since he took over. Helton will coach USC against Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Saturday.

Haden wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t at least put out feelers to Kelly (and possibly to NFL coaches with USC ties, like Jeff Fisher and Jack Del Rio) to gauge his interest. But there apparently wasn’t enough mutual interest for a job to get done.

Whether Kelly leaves Philadelphia and returns to college remains to be seen, but he won’t be leaving for USC.

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39 Responses to “Cross Chip off the list: USC announces Clay Helton is head coach”
  1. Dark Chocolate says: Nov 30, 2015 10:56 AM

    It was lazy analysis to speculate that Kelly would be a candidate for that job. He’s got the owner’s support, full control over personnel for an NFL team and a desire to prove himself at the highest level.

  2. harrisonhits3 says: Nov 30, 2015 10:58 AM

    He’s been a disaster of a coach in the NFL; cutting playmakers left and right. He needs to look at Jay Gruden of the Redskins to see how to meld a team together that have ego problems.

  3. ocdn says: Nov 30, 2015 10:59 AM

    After Lane Kiffin and “Cutty” Sark, this should be your last chance to hire a football coach, Pat. Fight On!

  4. elmerbrownelmerbrown says: Nov 30, 2015 11:01 AM

    I would have a hard time going out and playing for a coach who’s name comes up at every vacancy out there whether it be unfounded or not it creeps into your world ! Plus I would wonder why when said coach is not all that

  5. bassplucker says: Nov 30, 2015 11:02 AM

    So much for that scenario. And the LSU one, too.

  6. nullaereale says: Nov 30, 2015 11:09 AM

    Chip Kelly–“Trading his turkey stuffing and mac & cheese for cranberry sauce since 1963”

  7. benfranklinshat says: Nov 30, 2015 11:12 AM

    Speculation was all coming from PFT. But as an Eagles fan who has lost his faith in Chip – let’s ship him somewhere.

  8. learysdisciples says: Nov 30, 2015 11:13 AM

    Dang, I had him in the usc coaches pool.

  9. wannabear says: Nov 30, 2015 11:13 AM

    His Experiment Had Failed In Philly

  10. lbijake says: Nov 30, 2015 11:14 AM

    Cannot understand why anyone would be interested in Jeff Fischer.

  11. armchairqb says: Nov 30, 2015 11:20 AM

    lbijake says:
    Nov 30, 2015 11:14 AM
    Cannot understand why anyone would be interested in Jeff Fischer.

    •••••••••••••••••••••••••

    Rarely has a truer statement been made on PFT. Fischer is by far the most overrated coach ever. Never seen a guy get more credit for one Super Bowl loss and a hundred 8-8 seasons.

  12. armchairqb says: Nov 30, 2015 11:20 AM

    Don’t worry, Chip. I think Wagner College in Staten Island would love to have you.

  13. thereisfootballwestofjersey says: Nov 30, 2015 11:23 AM

    Stanford’s David Shaw likes this! The bookworm, 4.0 true student athletes on the farm take great pride in pounding the inner city kids of LA who never do their own homework!

  14. schmitty2 says: Nov 30, 2015 11:27 AM

    As a die hard Rams and USC fan I’m happy Fisher’s name is no longer in the mix. I don’t want him ruining both my favorite teams.

  15. canetic says: Nov 30, 2015 11:30 AM

    Terrible hire for USC. Welcome to Miami, Chip. As OC.

  16. vegasdestroyer says: Nov 30, 2015 11:32 AM

    PFT says Vince Lombardi was USC’s top choice.

  17. upperdecker19 says: Nov 30, 2015 11:42 AM

    Darn it!!!!

    Regards,
    Eagles fans

  18. PegulaBucks says: Nov 30, 2015 11:43 AM

    They needed a new AD first, not coach….

  19. mrstinkypants says: Nov 30, 2015 11:45 AM

    That’s because he’s going to the Titans instead!

  20. FinFan68 says: Nov 30, 2015 11:54 AM

    I honestly don’t see how Pat Haden still has that job. His situational awareness and good ol’ boy loyalty rivals that of Goodell.

  21. chrisk61 says: Nov 30, 2015 11:59 AM

    after wash win yesterday, eagles very much alive. 7-9 and div tiebreaker probably wins div.

  22. evrybdyhas1 says: Nov 30, 2015 12:01 PM

    Chip always has the Cleveland Browns to fall back on.

  23. ReligionIsForIdiots says: Nov 30, 2015 12:14 PM

    Chip Kelly spends more time eating than he does studying NFL offenses.

  24. thefatlazygamer says: Nov 30, 2015 12:20 PM

    This is the coach they were supposedly backing up the Brinks truck for? I wish people who didn’t have a clue would just shut up so I don’t have to waste my time tuning them out.

  25. abninf says: Nov 30, 2015 12:20 PM

    The rats chased Chip
    Up the gangplank of the ship
    They bit him and they tortured him
    Until he finally flipped
    He sniveled to the captain
    To turn around the rig
    The captain spied his madness
    And chucked him in the brig

  26. yorkmustgo says: Nov 30, 2015 12:33 PM

    Chip Kelly will be the coach of the San Francisco 49ers next year.

  27. wallabear says: Nov 30, 2015 12:37 PM

    Okay. No biggie. Now… what about Tennessee?

  28. boss81hogg says: Nov 30, 2015 12:46 PM

    University of Texas or the Tennessee Titans

  29. draculalambert says: Nov 30, 2015 12:47 PM

    Chip will be the Titans head coach next year.

    Book it

  30. jgedgar70 says: Nov 30, 2015 12:49 PM

    Time to ramp up speculation that Kelly will be hired at the other USC.

  31. a1b24312 says: Nov 30, 2015 12:57 PM

    His show cause penalty does not expire until the end of December so it stands to reason that no one will hire him until January. Whuch means Chipper either stays in Philadelphia (likely with the GM responsibilities gone) or he sits our a year.

  32. jjackwagon says: Nov 30, 2015 1:05 PM

    The other USC or maybe even MIZZOU will be his next stop.

  33. donatocha33 says: Nov 30, 2015 1:12 PM

    Yeah Chip…go back to school. This clown should never have been hired as an NFL coach.

  34. yorkmustgo says: Nov 30, 2015 1:12 PM

    Mizzou doesn’t deserve a coach. What a gutless excuse for a college. I will forever root for them to go 0fer.

  35. chinahand11 says: Nov 30, 2015 1:44 PM

    “He needs to look at Jay Gruden of the Redskins to see how to meld a team together that have ego problems.”

    Man that is cold, when you compare any coach to “that play should have worked dammit” Gruden.

  36. pacificdan says: Nov 30, 2015 1:47 PM

    I’m not a Eagles fan but it’s a little early to give up on Chip. I think he has the potential to be a revolutionary coach. The fans ran Bill out of Cleveland and I’m sure New England fans appreciate that.

    Give it time. Or don’t! As a Cowboy fan I’d love to see Philly start over.

  37. bleedeaglegreen says: Nov 30, 2015 2:12 PM

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^

    Fans didn’t run Bill out of Cleveland, Art Model did when he moved the team & blamed everything that happened on everyone but himself. Big Difference

    Chip started 10-6 with Andy’s roster 2 yrs ago & has now brought us to the worst 2 back to back weeks in franchise history.

  38. autoriot says: Nov 30, 2015 2:26 PM

    No one but folks in the media had Chip to USC on their list, sooooooo…yeah. But go ahead, be sure to cross him off YOUR list.

    Anyone who thought he would go to a team in the PAC 12 underestimates his relationship with Phil Knight. That, or you’re just silly.

  39. professorpigskin46 says: Nov 30, 2015 2:57 PM

    He’s already coaching a college team.

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