The Philadelphia Eagles no longer need to worry about Chip Kelly, who was fired from his position as head coach earlier this week. But for at least one player, Kelly’s departure couldn’t come soon enough.
Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson, Kelly’s first draft pick (fourth overall in 2013), was brutally honest about his former head coach while speaking with reporters Wednesday in Philadelphia.
“Maybe the ego got in the way,” Johnson said, according to Philly.com. “Too much power. Control. Not being human about things — not working together, with the team, instead of being a dictator.”
Johnson also praised Kelly, calling him a “brilliant coach” who cared about the team. It’s easy to see where Kelly’s tactics probably rubbed some players the wrong way, though. The coach ignored complaints about being overworked in practice, according to Johnson, and an unwillingness to accept input from players created a bad environment in which fear and paranoia reigned supreme.
“(The team needs) a guy that if issues arise, you’re able to talk to, communicate and solve the problem, instead of maybe being a one-way guy that’s just set in his ways,” Johnson said. “I think Chip really did care about this team. I just think there was some difficulties with him coming out and saying what he needed to say.”
Johnson’s description of Kelly’s practices and principles suggest the coach was OK with running his players into the ground from the beginning of OTAs through the end of the season. It’s a strategy that might work in college, where Kelly had success, most notably with the University of Oregon, but the NFL is a different beast, especially as players age and their bodies take a beating.
“Making the transition from college to the NFL is tough. It’s different,” Johnson said, per Philly.com. “If you’re set in your ways, maybe closed-minded, not willing to change, it’s going to rub people the wrong way.”
Consider Johnson among those rubbed the wrong way during Kelly’s roller-coaster three seasons in the City of Brotherly Love.
Thumbnail photo via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images
