Longtime NFL/NCAA head coach Chip Kelly might be making a foray into television this fall, possibly joining FOX as a football analyst. Is this a good idea?
After fizzling out in the NFL as a head coach the last two seasons, longtime NFL and college football head coach Chip Kelly might be making a career move in the short-term.
According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, “Chip Kelly’s next NFL stop is going to be in the media ranks … he auditioned for FOX last week.”
Kelly may not be tremendously dynamic in front of a camera, but he has the potential to be very valuable for a television company like FOX. He had spent the last four years as a head coach in the NFC, the conference that FOX primarily covers.
Kelly also spent the four years before that coaching the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12. FOX broadcasts college football games in the Pac-12, the Big Ten and the Big 12.
Since launching FS1 to compete with ESPN, FOX has opted to hire analysts that can do a multitude of things. Two other guys that are very knowledgable of college and pro football on their staff are former coach Dave Wannstedt and quarterback Brady Quinn. Wannstedt is more of an analyst, while Quinn sets in the booth to cover games. Both have done well in their time with FOX.
Last summer, FOX tried to hire former Washington Huskies and USC Trojans head coach Steve Sarkisian to do college analysis for them. He would leave to take a job on Nick Saban’s staff with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Sarkisian has turned that gig into the new offensive coordinator role with the NFC’s Atlanta Falcons.
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Kelly may not be a darling in front of the camera, but his knowledge of offensive schemes, the NFL, and the Pac-12 could be very useful for the television network. Don’t be surprised if he winds up with FOX for the 2017 NFL season.