The 10 Most Overrated NFL Head Coaches Since 2000
4. Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles
Average nERD: 0.85 (28th)
Average Win Differential: 2.00 (19th)
Chip Kelly came in with so much promise, so much swagger. The former Oregon Ducks head coach was going to turn the conservative, cookie-cutter NFL on its ear with the advent of the “Blur” offense, which kept opposing defenses on its heels through up-tempo play calling and a mix of quick passes and deep shots. Speed was the name of the game. And just as quickly as he whirled into his first head coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelly spun out of control. Kelly had back-to-back 10-6 seasons for the Eagles in his first two years but missed the playoffs in 2014 and led the Eagles to a 7-9 record in 2015 before getting fired.
The thing is, he had a great first year in terms of value added, with a nERD of exactly 5.00, but he declined from there, ending up with a -4.20 nERD team by the time of his termination. The San Francisco 49ers decided the eccentric Kelly was worth the gamble, so his head coaching career in the NFL will continue in the Bay Area in 2016. As of right now, though, speed has killed Kelly’s reputation.