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5 Pros and 5 Cons of Head Coach Chip Kelly Leaving the San Francisco 49ers

By Peter Panacy

Chip Kelly before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Chip Kelly before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 20, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans linebacker coach Mike Vrabel watches play against the New Orleans Saints in the second half at NRG Stadium. Texans won 16 to 9. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans linebacker coach Mike Vrabel watches play against the New Orleans Saints in the second half at NRG Stadium. Texans won 16 to 9. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

Pro: Defensive-Minded Coaches Would Want to Come to the 49ers

Prior to the 2016 season, NFL Films senior editor Greg Cosell laid out on KNBR 680 (h/t CSN Bay Area) how any defensive coordinator serving under head coach Chip Kelly would have some pretty rough numbers.

October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

“No matter how much better the talent might be, the numbers will probably not be great because you’re the defensive coordinator on a Chip Kelly team,” Cosell said.

San Francisco tabbed former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil to lead the defense, likely because no one else wanted to come to Santa Clara.

And O’Neil’s 49ers defense now ranks dead last in nearly every major category. It could easily be historically bad too.

Talent-wise, San Francisco was supposed to be better in 2016. True, injuries to players like linebacker NaVorro Bowman have hurt. But this does not explain why up-and-coming contributors like Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Aaron Lynch haven’t provided much of an impact.

With Kelly gone, the 49ers would at least be able to lure in defensive-minded coaching to help push this unit in the right direction without the fear of being offset by an uptempo offense.