PHILADELPHIA -- The Chip Kelly revolution ended before it ever really began.
The Philadelphia Eagles abruptly fired Kelly on Tuesday night, five days before the final game of the 2015 regular season. Kelly's Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost to the Washington Redskins on Saturday night.
That loss dropped the Eagles to 6-9. They were 2-5 over their last seven games, including losses in which they surrendered 45 points twice and 40 points once. Overall, Kelly's record as Eagles head coach was 26-21.
Cleveland Browns, will serve as interim head coach for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
Kelly's dismissal represents a shocking fall from grace. Hired from the University of Oregon in 2013, Kelly came into the league with a reputation as an innovator and, in the words of Eagles owner Jeff Lurie, a "program builder."
Kelly made enormous changes in the way the Eagles do everything, from their practice schedules to their diets and sleep habits. He was caught on camera last season telling a player that "Culture beats scheme," a private moment that became a kind of rallying cry.
In his first game, a Monday night contest at Washington, Kelly's Eagles ran their no-huddle offense at breakneck speed in a 33-27 victory. The Eagles went 10-6 in 2013, winning the season finale at Dallas to claim the NFC East title. Despite a playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, it seemed as if Kelly's NFL future was unlimited.
Last season, the Eagles again went 10-6. But they lost three of their last four games and missed the playoffs. Immediately after the season, Lurie decided to move general manager Howie Roseman aside and give Kelly full control over personnel decisions.
Nick Foles and running back LeSean McCoy. He acquired Sam Bradford in the Foles deal, running back DeMarco Murray and cornerback Byron Maxwell in free agency, and released veteran guards Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans.
Lurie described the roster makeover as an attempt to "go from good to great." He also pointed out the inherent risk of going from good to mediocre, or worse.
That's what happened this season. The Eagles got off to a 1-3 start. Bradford, who looked stellar in the preseason, was uneven behind a patchwork offensive line. Murray never seemed comfortable in Kelly's offense. There was little sign of the team that had debuted so memorably in Washington two years earlier.
After getting to 4-4 at the midway point, the Eagles took a severe downturn in recent weeks. They upset the New England Patriots on the road and defeated the Buffalo Bills to get to 6-7, but lost 40-17 to Arizona and then 38-24 to Washington to fall out of playoff contention.
Kelly became the first Eagles head coach since Buddy Ryan in the 1980s to go through three seasons without a single playoff victory.
The Eagles also fired Ed Marynowitz, the personnel man Kelly enlisted to run the Eagles' personnel department.
Tom Donahoe, the former general manager of the Buffalo Bills, was named senior director of player personnel.
The Philadelphia Eagles abruptly fired Kelly on Tuesday night, five days before the final game of the 2015 regular season. Kelly's Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost to the Washington Redskins on Saturday night.
That loss dropped the Eagles to 6-9. They were 2-5 over their last seven games, including losses in which they surrendered 45 points twice and 40 points once. Overall, Kelly's record as Eagles head coach was 26-21.
Cleveland Browns, will serve as interim head coach for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
Kelly's dismissal represents a shocking fall from grace. Hired from the University of Oregon in 2013, Kelly came into the league with a reputation as an innovator and, in the words of Eagles owner Jeff Lurie, a "program builder."
Kelly made enormous changes in the way the Eagles do everything, from their practice schedules to their diets and sleep habits. He was caught on camera last season telling a player that "Culture beats scheme," a private moment that became a kind of rallying cry.
In his first game, a Monday night contest at Washington, Kelly's Eagles ran their no-huddle offense at breakneck speed in a 33-27 victory. The Eagles went 10-6 in 2013, winning the season finale at Dallas to claim the NFC East title. Despite a playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, it seemed as if Kelly's NFL future was unlimited.
Last season, the Eagles again went 10-6. But they lost three of their last four games and missed the playoffs. Immediately after the season, Lurie decided to move general manager Howie Roseman aside and give Kelly full control over personnel decisions.
Nick Foles and running back LeSean McCoy. He acquired Sam Bradford in the Foles deal, running back DeMarco Murray and cornerback Byron Maxwell in free agency, and released veteran guards Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans.
Lurie described the roster makeover as an attempt to "go from good to great." He also pointed out the inherent risk of going from good to mediocre, or worse.
That's what happened this season. The Eagles got off to a 1-3 start. Bradford, who looked stellar in the preseason, was uneven behind a patchwork offensive line. Murray never seemed comfortable in Kelly's offense. There was little sign of the team that had debuted so memorably in Washington two years earlier.
After getting to 4-4 at the midway point, the Eagles took a severe downturn in recent weeks. They upset the New England Patriots on the road and defeated the Buffalo Bills to get to 6-7, but lost 40-17 to Arizona and then 38-24 to Washington to fall out of playoff contention.
Kelly became the first Eagles head coach since Buddy Ryan in the 1980s to go through three seasons without a single playoff victory.
The Eagles also fired Ed Marynowitz, the personnel man Kelly enlisted to run the Eagles' personnel department.
Tom Donahoe, the former general manager of the Buffalo Bills, was named senior director of player personnel.
