No Crown Without Chip – Philadelphia Sports Nation

Nearly Six Years After the Eagles Sent Us into Euphoria, Why the Parade Might Never Have Been Without Chip.

I know exactly what you are thinking. Has this guy finally lost his marbles? (the answer is yes, but that is not relevant to this article!)

Please, proceed with caution.

It’s been almost six years since the Eagles gave us everything that we wanted in the 2018 NFL Playoffs. That team outlasted legendary Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s offense in the Super Bowl 41–33, demolished the Minnesota Vikings 38–7 in the NFC Championship, and made one big defense stop against Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Divisional Round Playoff Game (Jones now plays for the Eagles.)

And that shiny Lombardi Trophy resting at the Novacare Complex that gets polished up every now and again to remember those “good ol’ days?” Without Chip Kelly, the showcase would be a lot lighter.

A whole lot lighter.

Sure, Kelly went on a Napoleonic-like tear to have nearly sole control of the Eagles for almost three years, pushing out other executives. He even alienated and released players like Shady McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Michael Vick. He got rid of Nick Foles, but Nick came back.

Thank goodness that he came back.

A week after the Washington Commanders passed up on hiring Kelly as offensive coordinator until new coach Dan Quinn, here’s why in Philly there would be no championship without Chip.

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

Roster — Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman (reinstated again after Kelly left) immediately attempted to turn over the roster from Chip’s regime. Although key players like LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Nick Foles were already gone — eleven veterans of Chip Kelly’s era remained who made significant contributions like Lane Johnson and Zach Ertz when the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

RPO (Or Something Like It) — Doug Pederson never set out to revolutionize the NFL with a faster than the speed of light offense and taxing his defense who was on the field for the majority of the game. But the Eagles did run a version of the RPO offense for young quarterback and 2017 MVP candidate Carson Wentz, and during the playoff run for Nick Foles.

A New Invention Of Sorts— Not long after Kelly took the NFL by storm in 2013 with his quick-strike offense, NFL coordinators figured out how to withstand the onslaught by slowing down his offense and further taxing his defense which was constantly on the field. But even when he suffered through a 2–14 season with San Francisco in 2016, tenants of his offense were permanently in the NFL. The Eagles not only used them in 2017–2018, but last season as well with Jalen Hurts.

Draft Picks? — Kelly’s selection of tight end Zach Ertz, offensive lineman Lane Johnson, and wide receiver Nelson Agholor all contributed to the Super Bowl victory.

Of course, Chip Kelly traded away Pro Bowl caliber players, demanded front office-like control of the organization, and never even won a playoff game in Philadelphia.

But his impact on the Eagles was not only long-lasting.

It helped (in part) to bring the first Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia.

Just one Chip in the Eagles euphoric 2018 crown.