Nick Saban Confirms Chip Kelly Visited with Alabama Coaching Staff

PHOENIX – Former Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly visited the Alabama coaching staff in Tuscaloosa last week, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban confirmed Saturday.

“Well, Chip Kelly is a good friend of myself and a lot of coaches on our staff, and he just happened to be in the area and he stopped by and visited with us for a little bit,” Saban said during Alabama’s media day, “and not really anything of significance relative to this game.”

Kelly, who the Eagles fired on Dec. 29 after nearly three full seasons, was in town after the Crimson Tide returned from its Cotton Bowl win over Michigan State in Arlington, Texas. Prior to making the jump to the NFL in 2013, Kelly spent four seasons as Oregon’s head coach, where he had a 46-7 record.

ESPN’s Brett McMurphy first reported the surprise visit via Twitter Thursday.

Current Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin made a similar visit to Tuscaloosa ahead of the 2014 Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma after he was fired by USC. Saban later hired Kiffin as the team’s offensive coordinator after Doug Nussmeier departed to take the same position at Michigan.

Kiffin, though, said he had a longer visit than Kelly, who was only in town for one day.