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Chip Kelly reportedly interviewed with the Jaguars ... again

    by Rob Tornoe
    Published 

Former San Francisco 49ers and Eagles head coach Chip Kelly is reportedly one of several candidates being considered for the Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive coordinator position, according to Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union:

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that not only did Kelly interview for the offensive coordinator position, he's already started hiring assistants:

Kelly was fired after just one season as 49ers coach, but that didn't stop the Jaguars from quietly bringing him in for an interview earlier this month for their head coaching vacancy, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The team ultimately hired former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone.

The Jaguars had interviewed five known candidates in addition to Marrone: Tom Coughlin (whom they hired as executive vice president), Harold Goodwin, Mike Smith, Kyle Shanahan, and Josh McDaniels. No word why the team chose to keep their interview with Kelly under the radar.

Back in 2006, when Coughlin was head coach of the New York Giants, he offered Kelly a job on his staff. Kelly turned it down, opting instead to remain as the offensive coordinator at New Hampshire.

"It was a great job, but it wasn't the right job at the right time," Kelly said of the opportunity. He was later hired by Oregon in 2007 and became head coach in 2009.

Kelly was fired after the 49ers' season-ending loss to the Seahawks. The team, which went 2-14 under Kelly, set a franchise record with 13 consecutive losses and ended the year at the bottom of the league in most offensive categories.

With every other vacancy around the league filled (except the 49ers), it looks as if Kelly will either have to consider an offensive coordinator position or head back to college, something he told Fox Sports reporter Bruce Feldman at the beginning of the month he was open to.

"I evaluate all jobs individually," Kelly said. "I wouldn't rule anything out. I never said I'm only looking at one thing."

Kelly went 26-21 in three seasons as Eagles coach. The team went 10-6 back-to-back in his first two seasons, but Kelly was fired before the final game of the 2015 season after going a disappointing 6-9.