Report: Chip Kelly Close to Signing With Cleveland Browns

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Chip Kelly is close to agreeing to become the head coach of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League, which would end the Chip Kelly era at the University of Oregon after four extremely successful seasons that included a national title game appearance in 2010, a Rose Bowl victory in 2011, and a Fiesta Bowl win just a few days ago in what now appears to have been Kelly’s final game as a head coach at Oregon.

Of course, it isn’t a sure thing until Kelly puts his signature on a contract, especially considering that Kelly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was being spoken about as if it was a near certainty this time last year before the deal fell through and Kelly stayed as the head coach in Eugene.

Jan. 3, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly looks on during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Ducks beats the Wildcats 35-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Assuming the reports are true and Kelly does sign, it will allow his legacy to be that much more defined. We will all get to see if his success at Oregon was based only on the unique no-huddle breakneck paced scheme and specific college-style game or if he is in fact a great coach that can either adapt his existing scheme to the NFL game and personnel or if he can even win games by playing an entirely different style of football.

Regardless of the result of the deal, you can bet Pac-12 fans in general, and Washington fans in particular, would be very excited to see Oregon without its star head coach, and I myself would be fascinated to see if a new coach can find similar success following his departure.

I will have more on this either when Kelly signs a deal or when he makes it clear that the reports are wrong.