Chip Kelly has become available for a ride on the looming coaching carousel, five days before the annual game of musical chairs begins. Which puts him in play for both of the current vacancies and some of the other ones that will arise.
Indeed, one or more vacancies could arise simply because Kelly is now available.
So where could he land in 2016? Let’s take a look at the possibilities.
1. Tennessee.
From the moment Commissioner Roger Goodell declared that the Titans had selected Marcus Mari-o-to in late April, the possibility of Kelly reuniting with his Oregon star quarterback loomed. But as Frank Wycheck of the Titans Radio Network pointed out during Wednesday’s PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio, the Titans may not be interested in Kelly primarily because the Titans are committed to employing an offense that keeps Mariota healthy. Kelly’s system isn’t conducive to that.
Of course, Kelly could try to persuade the Titans that he’ll use the modified version that helped keep perpetually brittle Sam Bradford in one piece (mostly) this year. And then, if Kelly gets the job, he can do whatever he wants -- as long as he wins.
2. Cleveland.
The Browns tried to hire Kelly three years ago, before they drafted the quarterback that Kelly once recruited to play at Oregon. With the Browns trying to figure out what to do with Johnny Manziel, keeping him and hiring Kelly becomes an option.
3. San Francisco.
The fact that the job isn’t available hasn’t kept Mike Holmgren from openly politicking for it. And the fact that Kelly is available should make the powers-that-be at least consider the possibility of hiring Kelly. He could resurrect the career of Colin Kaepernick. Kelly also could make the 49ers relevant after a season in purgatory, which has seen more and more empty seats at the team’s home stadium.
Of course, the 49ers would have to be willing to tolerate Kelly, who is prone to power struggles and generally pissing people off. But he can’t be any worse than Jim Harbaugh, and if it helps them win games again, who cares?
4. Miami.
The Dolphins recently fired offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, the former Eagles quarterback coach who tried to implement Kelly’s system. But having Kelly implement it himself could bring about different results -- and quarterback Ryan Tannehill definitely has the athleticism to make it work.
5. Indianapolis.
The prospect of quarterback Andrew Luck, who has the same size and physical attributes at Cam Newton, running Kelly’s system is intriguing. But after Luck missed half the year with a lacerated kidney, the Colts won’t want to take risks with him.
Also, if G.M. Ryan Grigson remains, he knows enough of the folks in Philly to hear all of the horror stories about Kelly.
Ultimately, whoever hires Kelly will have to take a leap of faith regarding his position that he’s not interested in running the team’s personnel department. Then again, just two days ago Kelly said he wasn’t running the personnel department in Philadelphia. So if he doesn’t want to run the personnel department with his next team the way he wasn’t running the personnel department in Philly, he wants to run the personnel department with his next team.