It was mid-January 2013. Andy Reid had just been hired by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Eagles stole Chip Kelly away from Oregon just a few days after he re-committed to them. Kelly, known for his offensive innovation and statistical success, had the resume and the smarts to be considered a good hire for a team that had hit a low point after being used to success for so long. Even so, the professional football world was unconvinced that Kelly could be the savior of a 4-12 football team, citing multiple scenarios in which Kelly would need at least three years to put his imprint on the team.
Fast forward to the present-day as the Eagles sit atop the NFC East leading the division at 7-2, the best start the Eagles have had since their 2004 playoff rampage. In one and a half short seasons, the Eagles have won a division title once already and are in a battle with the Cowboys (yes, the Cowboys) to win it again. Chip Kelly’s offense has been as productive as advertised and his ability to be a leader of men has been proven once again the pros. The lingering question remains as to how Chip Kelly did it. Many point to his “all-about-football” mentality or his strive to become a better coach on the daily but the answer to Kelly’s success as a Head Football Coach in the NFL can only be attributed to one thing.
And it isn’t his training staff’s infamous smoothies.
Kelly has set himself up for success from the very beginning by emphasizing and living by the idea that teaching and developing players is the way to win football games. From the very beginning, Kelly stated the importance he placed on hiring “football teachers” and not just hiring the hottest coaching assistants of the day. He proved his belief when he hired defensive coordinator Billy Davis, who hadn’t had a very successful looking campaign on the Browns, at face value, previously. He then hired offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp. The hire of the Shurmur at OC was considered to be odd and questionable by many yet interesting at the same time. Kelly didn’t exactly surround himself with the NFL’s prime targets in the coaching ranks. He surrounded himself that believed in teaching the game like he did.
Even during practice, Kelly implements what he likes to call “teach-periods.” Special teams is done in the beginning of many of his practices as opposed to the end, unlike 90-percent of the league, as well. His training staff implements dietary and sleep managing practices that pay close attention to a player’s body too.
If you are wondering how these things have fared for Coach Kelly then you haven’t been paying attention.
Player development, sometimes, falls to the wayside in a league where “win now” is the message coming from owners every year but Jeffery Lurie and Howie Rosemen know what it takes to win in this league and they saw the same knowledge and vision Kelly saw. Kelly focuses on developing the “whole player,” whether that be his physical attributes or his mental framework, his approach to watching film or his ability to play the position. Even vaunted veterens such as Trent Cole and DeMeco Ryans have been taken under the wing of Kelly and treated as respected and strong football minds while learning new positions. In a league where depth is necessary at every single position, Kelly has stimulated growth in players like Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Zach Ertz, Brandon Boykin, Nick Foles (before he started), Mark Sanchez (albeit in a short amount of time) and Casey Matthews. All of whom are contributing at their various positions in a BIG way.
The different ways that Chip Kelly’s approach to football has changed many people’s perception is much too extensive for an article. However, highlighting what he has done and the imprint he has put on this team in such a short period of time is not only necessary, considering his success and ideology, it is crucial. The bar has now been set for newly hired coaches in the NFL and it isn’t an easy one.
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