UCLA Football: Chip Kelly Unfazed by Potential Firing

Kelly isn't worried about potentially being let go

After a great win against their cross-town rivals, the USC Trojans, the UCLA Bruins were looking to end their play in the Pac-12 in a big way. Instead, the Bruins folded faster than a lawn chair in front of their home fans against the lonely California Golden Bears, 33-7. 

The Bruins were manhandled at home in their final Pac-12 game ever. Considering how they looked just a week ago, it was rather embarrassing and unexpected. It seemed they had found something, but it was only temporary; it had appeared. 

Now, after that embarrassing display, the roars of firing Chip Kelly are louder than ever. It's so loud that even the media are addressing Kelly about it after the game. However, he doesn't seem to be fazed about the noise but instead focused on the improvement he has made recently instead of the six-year sample size. 

“I don’t worry about that,” Kelly said after his team finished the regular season 7-5 overall and 4-5 in the Pac-12, leaving his record at the school at 34-34. “I don’t worry about that dynamic. I know this team’s 24-13 in the last three years, and they compete every single day, and I’m proud of every single kid in that locker room.

(Per Chip Kelly via LA Times)

Yes, Kelly has improved the team year by year, but has it got them anywhere? The answer to that is a resounding "no." No College Football Playoff appearance, no New Year's Six Bowl, no Rose Bowl wins, nothing. There was only one measly appearance in the Sun Bowl last season, which resulted in a loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers. 

The highest ranking Kelly has led UCLA to was number nine in the AP Poll. It's nice, yes, but that type of play isn't going to cut it to get over the other elite programs in their conference, let alone the new conference they'll be heading to starting in 2024. 

Overall, Kelly has an average 34-34 record with the Bruins after displaying dominance in this very same conference with the Oregon Ducks a decade ago. It's baffling to see how the mighty have fallen; it's clear the six years under Kelly have been a failure, and I would be shocked to see Kelly on the UCLA sidelines next season. 

It's not a given he would be let go, but I'm sure many would be surprised to see him at the helm in 2024. 

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