The San Francisco 49ers have hired Chip Kelly to be the team’s next head coach, the team announced Thursday.
49ers CEO Jed York tweeted that he and general manager Trent Baalke has selected Kelly “after a thorough search.”
San Francisco went 5-11 under first-year coach Jim Tomsula and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Tomsula was fired on Jan. 3 after taking over for Jim Harbaugh, who left after the 2014 season in what the team called a “mutual” parting.
Kelly, who was fired by the Eagles before the end of the season, already has a connection with Niners senior personnel executive Tom Gamble, who had been with Kelly in Philadelphia.
The 49ers narrowed down their finalists to Kelly and Mike Shanahan earlier Thursday, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Source: ESPN