Today, Kelly stood by his previous statements and said that he would not be returning to Oregon. While he has not heard from the school, he spoke with Helfrich in the past 24 hours. However, he expressed a willingness to help Oregon find their next head coach.
"I just felt bad for Mark," Kelly told the media today. "I love him like a brother. He's a tremendous person. He's a hell of a football coach but he's an even better person. So, I just felt for him and the rest of the guys on that staff. It's an unfortunate thing that goes on in this profession."
Kelly was hired as the 49ers head coach in January following three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Since then, he has led the team to a 1-10 record and lost 10 straight games after the 49ers' opening week win over the Los Angeles Rams. The 10 straight losses are a franchise record.
Kelly has stated all season that he has no plans to leave the NFL to return to college football and that he plans to remain with the 49ers.
"I haven't talked to a college since I've been in the NFL and it's not my goal," Kelly said back on November 7. "My goal is to be the head coach of the 49ers and that's what I want to do so I don't know why...it surprises me that that continues to be a news story. It's been the same story since I left four years ago. I'm not looking to go back and that's what I've always said so I don't know why it's still a story."
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