San Francisco 49ers: Ranking 5 worst head coaches over last 20 years

No. 2: 49ers Head Coach Chip Kelly

Years Coaching: 2016

Win-Loss Record: 2-14

Philadelphia Eagles fans surely were laughing when the 49ers hired Chip Kelly early in 2016, particularly after his run-ins with general manager Howie Roseman and drastic roster alterations the previous year in Philly.

Yet the thinking was Kelly would spark what was an anemic Niners offense. Him not having roster control was going to be a bonus, too.

Well, nothing of the sort happened.

The 2016 campaign was nothing short of disastrous. Granted, Kelly was playing with one of the worst rosters in the NFL and had almost nothing by the way of talent. It’s anyone’s guess how San Francisco could have faired if it weren’t for the roster mistakes made by then-general manager Trent Baalke in previous seasons.

But it’s still hard to peg Kelly’s lone season in San Francisco as anything else but a failure.

Kelly himself didn’t seem too curmudgeonly or anything like that. His regular interviews on the team’s flagship radio station, KNBR 680, were entertaining. And he still has positive thoughts on the team’s experience with quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s yearlong protest.

If there is a bonus, though, Kelly’s tumultuous year at least convinced Jed York he needed to start from scratch, ousting both Kelly and Baalke early in 2017 to bring aboard Kyle Shanahan and a new GM, John Lynch.

Thanks for being a bridge, Kelly.