There have been plenty of stops for Chip Kelly during his football career, but his stint with the San Francisco 49ers was his shortest.
Kelly breezed through the collegiate level with the Oregon Ducks in the early 2010s and parlayed it into a career in the NFL. Unfortunately, things didn’t go well as he managed a career record of 28-35 including a 2-14 mark in one season with the San Francisco 49ers.
While Kelly is back in the league with the Las Vegas Raiders, he’s already rubbing people the wrong way and the list includes a prized rookie that could lead the Raiders back to prominence.
Former 49ers Coach Chip Kelly Urges Ashton Jeanty to Change Trademark Stance
The Las Vegas Raiders added blue-chip running back prospect Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in last month’s draft and there are big plans to utilize him in Kelly’s offense. Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while finishing as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in his final year at Boise State.
However, one of Kelly’s first items of business when Jeanty arrived in the desert was to fix his pre-snap stance where he stands straight up in the backfield.
“You know, sometimes, you have to, you know, go with the flow,” Jeanty said. “What’s crazy is, Chip Kelly comes to me first day of rookie minicamp, and he’s like ‘You ever play basketball?’ And I’m like ‘Yeah, I play basketball, you know, I can dunk and all that.’ He’s like, ‘OK, show me how you would guard me,’ and he’s acting like he’s holding the ball. And then he’s like, ‘That’s exactly why you have to be down in your running back stance.”
Jeanty’s stance has become part of his legend as it’s been compared to Michael Myers in the Halloween movie franchise. While it may not be traditional, it’s certainly effective as Jeanty ran for 4,769 yards and 50 touchdowns in his final two seasons with the Broncos.
The stance isn’t just for looks. Jeanty revealed last October that he was taught by a former coach to use a stance that helps him relax in the backfield and while unorthodox, it hasn’t stopped him from making big plays.
“One of my coaches used to say if you couldn’t stand in that stance for five minutes, then it’s probably not a good stance,” Jeanty said via Blue Turf Sports. “So [it’s about] being relaxed and comfortable and at that point, I’m just reading the defense and waiting for the ball to snap. I wouldn’t say there’s anything too specific about it, just that I’m relaxed and comfortable and I’m just ready to make a play for my team.”
Kelly isn’t buying Jeanty’s motive, however, and the rookie used a more traditional approach during the first wave of offseason workouts. While the stance is dead for now it could come back like Myers did in the 13 different movies spanning from 1978 to 2022.
“He won for now,” Jeanty said. “I’m going to try to persuade him one day. I have to earn my stripes and make some plays first, but I don’t think it’s going to be the end [of the stance].”
While it seems harmless, 49ers fans have seen Kelly's abrasive style go the wrong way. If that happens with Jeanty, the Raiders could be in danger of long-term ramifications.