San Francisco 49ers RUMORS: Chip Kelly Hired Because Mike Shanahan Didn’t Want

Here are three quick takes from Chip Kelly’s official introduction as head coach of the San Franciso 49ers today.

Kelly, who was sacked from the Philadelphia Eagles after a lackluster season, was announced as the 49ers pick last week.

– Kelly and his new staff, once assembled, will evaluate the team’s roster together.

Kelly spoke of the 49ers legacy and said he was “very humbled and very honored to be here”, adding “I can’t wait to get started”.

Kelly was non-committal about his quarterback preferences Wednesday, though he did say he’s spoken to both Kaepernick and Gabbert.

Curiously, he also identified Kelly as a “strong leader of men”.

As for the next steps for Kelly as 49ers head coach, time will tell on the coaches he hires and the personnel he helps develop on the field.

Since the team’s announcement of his hiring last week, Kelly has stayed away from the media and kept quiet about his plans, the 49ers’ needs and his coaching staff. Maybe Chip Kelly’s stop in Tuscaloosa, Ala. prior to the national championship game was a bit more than a passing through after all.

“One of the things that attracted me to coming to this part of country is how it’s probably one of most fertile, creative ground around here”, Kelly said.

“We share a very similar vision”, Baalke said. “But I have a passion for the game of football, and I have great respect for this game”.

But how Harbaugh’s tenure ended with the 49ers in December 2014 did not complicate the matter last week when Kelly was offered the 49ers’ head-coaching position.

NFL rules ban coaches from talking with players about football before the April 4 deadline, but Kelly said he has had casual conversations with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Carlos Hyde at the team’s headquarters.

“I don’t think anybody goes into the season saying, ‘Let’s get six (wins),’ ” Kelly said. After the Eagles canned Kelly, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported that Kelly’s inability “to relate to most people on a human level” might’ve played a role his demise. “It really meant a lot to me”, Kelly said.

“I think you always can apply what you learn from your experiences but one of the things that struck me when I left Philadelphia was the text messages and calls from the player”.

“Because I got fired, I look at it more like an autopsy”, Kelly said. “You look at all the success he had at OR and there (in Philadelphia)”.

Kelly did not endorse quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the future for the 49ers.

“Chip is going to be here a long time”, York said.

Kelly is working to finalize his coordinators, with Mike Vrabel expected to be in the mix for the defensive job.

Taking a big-picture perspective of the 49ers current roster, Kelly said he would be withholding any judgement until he sees them in person because there’s a different feel than watching them on film, per Chan.