In a recent episode of the “25/10” podcast, former Philadelphia Eagles stars DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy called in Jason Peters, Brandon Graham and Jeremy Maclin to give their opinions on their former head coach Chip Kelly. The responses were overwhelmingly negative and included scathing criticism of Kelly’s tenure with the team.
Veteran offensive tackle Jason Peters was blunt, calling Kelly a “scumbag.” Brandon Graham, who remains a key player for the Eagles, expanded on that statement, saying, “He was very selfish and didn’t want to give up too much power and edge.” Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was just as blunt, calling Kelly “scum.”
Chip Kelly
These harsh evaluations come years after Kelly left Philadelphia. Kelly served as the Eagles’ head coach from 2013-15, a period marked by initial promise followed by a rapid decline. In his first two seasons, Kelly led the team to identical 10-6 records. But 2015 saw a turn for the worse, as the Eagles stumbled to a 6-9 record before Kelly was fired after Week 16.
During Kelly’s tenure, the Eagles made just one playoff appearance and lost. The team’s performance, particularly on offense, showed a clear downward trend over his three seasons. After being among the top five offensive teams in points scored during Kelly’s first two years, the Eagles fell to the middle of the pack in his final season. Similar declines were seen in both passing and rushing statistics.
Since Kelly’s departure, the Eagles have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence, including a Super Bowl victory in 2018 and multiple playoff appearances. The organization’s ability to recover and thrive in the post-Kelly era shows the resilience of the franchise and the effectiveness of the leadership that followed.
The Eagles continue to compete at the highest level in the NFL and show how a change in coaching philosophy and corporate culture can dramatically impact a team’s future.
