Report: 49ers coaching decision came down to Chip Kelly, Mike Shanahan
The San Francisco 49ers considered Chip Kelly and Mike Shanahan to be finalists for their vacant head coaching job before deciding to hire Kelly on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported.
Kelly was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles late in the season after going 6–9 and being eliminated from the playoffs. Kelly went 26–21 in four seasons with the Eagles.
Shanahan hasn't coached in the NFL since being fired by the Washington Redskins following the 2013 season. He has seen success in his 20 years as an NFL head coach, posting a 170–138 record. He won Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos in 1997 and 1998.
• Report: Tom Coughlin withdraws name from Eagles HC consideration
The 49ers also showed interest in former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who was hired as head coach by the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday.
San Francisco fired coach Jim Tomsula after just one season. The 49ers finished 5–11 in their first season in the post-Jim Harbaugh era.
