Chip Kelly discusses turning down Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012

Back in January of 2012, rumors started to swirl that Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly would be heading to Tampa Bay to coach the Buccaneers. Kelly, when asked about the Tampa Bay offer before Philadelphia’s practice on Wednesday, spoke about why he stuck with the Ducks for another year:

"I didn’t want to leave the staff at Oregon at that time. And I didn’t want to leave the players at Oregon at that time. I didn’t have NFL aspirations. They contacted me. I said I’d go to an interview as long as it didn’t affect my recruiting. It was the first time I’d ever been contacted by an NFL team. I said as long as it’s not going to affect where I am, and they were gracious enough to work it into my schedule where it didn’t affect the recruiting schedule. And I listened is what happened (CSN Philly)."

Yep, sounds like a standard Chip Kelly answer.

Kelly’s decision to stay with Oregon certainly paid off. His Ducks went 12-1 and thumped the Kansas State Wildcats in the Fiesta Bowl. Of course, we all know his lack of NFL aspirations changed a bit after that…

[Source: CSN Philly]