After strongly considering leaping to the NFL, Bill O’Brien has reportedly decided to stay at Penn State.
O’Brien interviewed with both the Browns and the Eagles but has decided not to consider either position -- or any other position -- and will remain the head coach at Penn State, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
O’Brien was a well regarded offensive coordinator for the Patriots and became a hot head-coaching candidate when he led Penn State to an 8-4 record despite crippling NCAA sanctions in his first year as the Nittany Lions’ head coach. But while O’Brien was at least interested enough in leaving to take interviews, he’s going to stay the course at Penn State.
That leaves Oregon coach Chip Kelly, who is currently coaching in the Fiesta Bowl, as the candidate who is believed to be the first choice of both the Browns and the Eagles. If O’Brien is staying with Penn State, then Kelly just got even more leverage in contract negotiations.
UPDATE 10:30 p.m. ET: O’Brien told PennLive.com, “I’m not a one-and-done guy. I made a commitment to these players at Penn State and that’s what I am going to do. I’m not gonna cut and run after one year, that’s for sure.”