Man, for a guy who loves coaching, Chip Kelly has managed to maneuver himself out of the game about as quickly as I have ever seen. He will join ESPN for college football studio shows, and also contribute to their NFL coverage.

Press release:

ESPN has signed former head coach Chip Kelly to a multiyear deal as a studio analyst. The former Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year will have a significant presence on ESPN programming during the football season, predominantly working college football pre-games, halftimes and studio wraps each Saturday on ESPN2. Kelly, a coach with nearly 30 years of experience at multiple levels of football, will also appear on SportsCenter on Fridays and Sundays offering insight to college and NFL games.

“Chip is one of the most innovative football minds of our generation,” said Lee Fitting, ESPN senior coordinating producer. “As a coach, he saw the game from a unique perspective, never afraid to take an unconventional approach. We want him to bring that mentality to our college football coverage each week, offering fans a varying viewpoint outside of the conventional thought process.”

“Over the last 30 years, I have experienced football from one perspective – as a coach,” said Chip Kelly. “Working in television will allow me to see the game from a different angle; simultaneously, I‘ll provide viewers an insight to the mindset of a coach and team while offering alternative views of various situations.”

Continued Kelly, “Once I decided to make the move to TV, my familiarity with ESPN, combined with their high-quality production and vital role in college football, it was easily the best network suited for me.”

Bang on Chip all you want, but the Eagles (and many teams across the league) still use his nutrition and performance programs. He lives in New Hampshire, and so the two-hour and 45-minute commute from his home to ESPN headquarters (I checked because I know his address) every weekend should pose no problem until he gets hired by some big-time college program.