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Five potential new jobs for Chip Kelly

By John Buhler

December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly looks on during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Levi
December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly looks on during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Levi /
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Nov 12, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora prior to a NCAA football game against the Oregon State Beavers at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora prior to a NCAA football game against the Oregon State Beavers at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

While Kelly to Arkansas is a great fit for 2018 and maybe 2017 if the Razorbacks act swiftly, maybe the best landing spot for Kelly in 2018 may still be in the Golden State. If Jim Mora doesn’t get the 2017 UCLA Bruins back to a bowl, he might be out of Westwood.

UCLA is a mid-tier program that can be a national power with the right coach. Kelly will have a larger recruiting base than he ever had in Eugene. He is tremendously aware of how to recruit and win in the Pac-12. Kelly would make UCLA a Pac-12 South contender in a year and a half.

UCLA will want to be relevant in the college football landscape now that city rival USC has begun to pop with Clay Helton at head coach. The Trojans look to be on the way back and UCLA doesn’t want to be a forgotten Power 5 team stuck in USC’s shadow.

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Like with the Rams in the NFL, UCLA would need to make a splash hire if the Bruins were to move on from Mora. Mora has been consistent at UCLA but has never gotten the Bruins to a meaningful bowl game in the College Football Playoff era. Kelly took Oregon to the 2010 National Championship and recruited Marcus Mariota to come play in the liquid sunshine away from his native Honolulu. Imagine what Kelly could build at UCLA if given the shot in 2018.