SANTA CLARA – Coach Chip Kelly, who is concluding his first year of a four-year contract reportedly worth $24 million with the 49ers, has not has an substantive talks with team ownership about his future.
He said he would not expect to set down and discuss the plan for 2017 and beyond until the 2016 season has concluded.
When asked he has received any formal assurance that he would be back next season, Kelly answered, “No, I have a contract. I meet with ownership. It’s not like we don’t talk. I met with (49ers CEO) Jed (York) earlier today. I hadn’t seen Jed since I got back.”
The 49ers (1-11) are on a franchise-worst 11-game losing streak. Kelly also dealt with personal tragedy over the weekend when his father, E. Paul Kelly, passed away at the age of 87. Kelly expressed appreciation for the York’s support during that time.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the York family for how much they helped me in the last five to six days,” Kelly said. “They were unbelievable.”
The Yorks had a private plane waiting for Kelly in Chicago when the team landed Friday night, he said. Kelly flew to New Hampshire to be with his mother. He was flown back to Chicago the next day for the game.
Sports
Also, the Yorks arranged for Kelly’s partner, Jill Cohen, to fly from the Bay Area to Chicago. Both Kelly and Cohen were flown to the funeral in Portland, Maine, after the game and back to the Bay Area on Tuesday evening.
Kelly said he spoke to Jed York face to face on Thursday morning for the first time since he got back, but the conversation only focused on this week's situation entering the team's game Sunday against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium.
“I’ve never had a conversation in-season about things going on,” Kelly said. “Obviously, at the end of every year, you’ll sit down and evaluate everything. But I haven’t had anything – nor would I expect to have anybody come to me during the season and talk about what’s going to go on.
“The football discussion I had today with Jed was just about injuries,” Kelly added. “Who’s out? What are we doing here? What’s your thought process in terms of the Jets? Just a normal conversations we have on a weekly basis. But nothing from that (contract) standpoint.”
