New 49ers coach Chip Kelly "introduced himself as 'a football guy'" in his first team press conference, coming across as someone "with a sense of humor and an extreme measure of self-confidence, according to Andy Furillo of the SACRAMENTO BEE. He talked "of being humbled by the 49ers’ trophy room and being named to restore a franchise legacy established by Bill Walsh" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/21). In Oakland, Marcus Thompson II writes if yesterday "was an indicator, 49ers football is in for a triple shot." Thompson: "Of energy. Of entertainment. Of personality." Kelly is "clearly unlike any coach who has been around here in a long time" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 1/21). In S.F., Scott Ostler writes Kelly "came off as likable, personable and accountable, without being vapid or slick." So either Kelly "isn’t as crazy and antisocial as some have led us to believe, or he’s so nutso-devious that he can play a convincing sane guy" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/21). ESPN's Mark Dominik said Kelly likely was "trying to show himself as a guy, and that’s why he’s cracking a joke and trying to defuse a little bit of this 'Chip Kelly persona' that so many people out there have” ("NFL Insiders," ESPN, 1/20). In Sacramento, Matt Barrows adds Kelly's press conference "was the polar opposite of last year's" featuring former coach Jim Tomsula. Kelly was "concise, confident, proud, even defiant at times" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/21). In San Jose, Tim Kawakami notes in contrast to Tomsula's introduction last year, 49ers CEO Jed York yesterday "made the opening remarks and then got the heck off the stage." York "spoke in another informal session after the news conference, but this day was pretty much cleared out for one man, one personality, one presence" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/21).
DOUBLE DOWN TRENT: In San Jose, Cam Inman reports 49ers GM Trent Baalke "remains in control of personnel, with no objection from Kelly, who oversaw the Eagles in his final, fateful year." Baalke "made sure to point out" that Senior Personnel Exec Tom Gamble can "serve as a 'bridge' between the two, having previously worked with both men" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/21). ESPN's Jim Trotter believes Kelly and Baalke “will be able to work together.” For all the "criticism that people have" of Baalke, the "one thing I know is he leans on the advice of his coaches.” Trotter: “They will work in synergy to make sure that this roster is right, and Chip is comfortable with it. But it’s good to have a buffer. I’ve always said it’s never good when one man has complete control” (“NFL Insiders,” ESPN, 1/20). But Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said if the 49ers are "successful, keep an eye on whether and to what extent Chip Kelly tries to make a power play like the one he did with the Eagles” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 1/20).
STAGNANT PROGRESS: In N.Y., Ken Belson notes seven NFL coaches were replaced this offseason, which is "in line with recent years," but what is perhaps "more remarkable is who replaced them: All but one was white, and the hiring of one black head coach," Hue Jackson by the Browns, was "offset by the dismissal" of former Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith. The net result is that the league "has six minority coaches, the same number as last season and one fewer than the peak," in '06 and '11. Research "released this month suggests that the stagnant number, rather than a sign of success, is a result of shortfalls in hiring minority coaches in the assistant ranks." The study, released by professors at Georgetown, George Washington, Emory and Iowa State, examined the careers of more 1,200 NFL coaches from '85-'12 and "found that black coaches consistently moved more slowly up the ranks than their white counterparts, despite roughly equal performance and skill sets." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said the league would "look at this research as we do with any study to see if it can help further advance our initiatives" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/21).
