Eagles Announce Changes To Chip Kelly & Howie Roseman’s Roles With The Team

Update:

Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie announced Friday night that Howie Roseman has been elevated to executive VP of football operations.

Chip Kelly will oversee the player personnel department and hire a new personnel executive following the release of Tom Gamble.

Here’s the full statement regarding the moves:

“Today, we made an important announcement and one upon which I would like to offer further perspective.

“In the normal process of evaluating the end of the season, I meet with key executives for thorough discussions and evaluations of all aspects of football operations. During those lengthy meetings this week, we discussed a comprehensive approach on how to seamlessly integrate the personnel and coaching departments in order to maximize every facet of the process.

“Working with Chip (Kelly), Howie (Roseman) and Don (Smolenski) we came up with what we believe will be a more thorough and thoughtful model that would best be overseen by Chip. It’s most important that we find players that match what our coaches are seeking.

“This new approach goes even further than we have in the past starting with Day One of the scouting process. This is part of an all-encompassing vision that takes you from the scouting process all the way to on-field performance.

“Howie, Chip and Don are all united in their desire to win. Together, we decided this approach was the best course of action for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“You have heard me say many times that I want strong leaders who feel free to express their opinions. And that is what happened here. Chip will now lead this process going forward with the continued full support of Howie, Don and myself.

“Chip will not be doing this work by himself, obviously. He has been charged with recruiting and hiring a new personnel executive that will report directly to him and together we will move forward with this new, highly integrated approach.

“When I said – after the Giants game – that Howie was returning as general manager next season, I meant that. But after carefully listening and reflecting on the lengthy discussions that I had with our senior team, I changed my mind.

“I have a very good relationship with Chip that continues to grow stronger and stronger. When we spoke, he was thoughtful, thorough and professional. There were no demands, no threats – quite the contrary – he was passionate, engaged and articulated a dynamic and clear vision on how this fully integrated approach will work. We look forward to seeing it come to life over time.

“Let me also stress that Howie will continue to play a vital role in our operation. He has been elevated to the role of Executive Vice President of Football Operations and received a contract extension.”

“In closing, we have looked hard at where we are today and what we want to become. We are all united in our desire to win for this city.”

The big takeaway here is that Kelly is now in charge of personnel, which is definitely a victory for him.

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Jason La Canfora expects Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie to find a way to appease both HC Chip Kelly and GM Howie Roseman for now with either new titles or adjusting their roles.

• La Canfora adds that Lurie has made it clear that he values both Kelly and Roseman
• Jay Glazer doesn’t Kelly leaving the Eagles and also expects them work things out.

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According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Eagles decision to “mutually part ways” with VP of player personnel Tom Gamble was “anything but mutual.”

If fact, Gamble was actually escorted out of the building on Wednesday.

Florio writes speculation has “run rampant” in recent days with the Eagles yet to comment on why Gamble was replaced. As things stand right now, it appears as though HC Chip Kelly and G.M. Howie Roseman engaged in a showdown over Gamble with Roseman ultimately coming out on top.

Florio reports that a plugged-in league source has told him that there could be “something big” going on in Philadelphia following Gamble’s departure from the team. However, no one knows what to expect at this point in time.

“Kelly may have told owner Jeffrey Lurie that either Kelly goes or Roseman goes,” Florio speculates. “Lurie may have responded by deciding to move on from Roseman, who previously won a power struggle with former team president Joe Banner, Lurie’s boyhood friend.  Or Lurie may have responded by telling Kelly that both guys are staying, and that Kelly remains under contract for three years.”

Jason La Canfora reports that people back Oregon have heard that Kelly is upset with his current situation and wants out of his contract with the Eagles.

• Darren Degaetano first reported that Kelly has “expressed interest” in getting out of his contract.
• Degaetano added that there is a lot of pressure on owner Jeffery Lurie right now.
• Tim McManus reports that a move “forthcoming,” but it doesn’t involve the departure of either Kelly or Roseman.
• John Middlekauff has spoken to numerous sources and has concluded that Kelly is going nowhere.

Kelly still has another three years remaining on his contract with the team, so it wouldn’t be easy to get out of the agreement.

Florio mentions that forcing Kelly and Roseman to work things out may not be the best course of action, and instead suggests that trading Kelly could be a possibility, especially if Lurie is committed to Roseman remaining the team’s general manager.

We’ll have more updates as the news is available.

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Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly, citing multiple sources, reports that tensions have developed between Eagles GM Howie Roseman and HC Chip Kelly in the past two years, while the bond between Kelly and recently released VP of player personnel Tom Gamble was “tightening.”

Apparently, the issues go even further as Mosher’s sources mentioned that “bad blood in Roseman’s scouting department has been brewing and Gamble’s departure could be just the first shoe to drop.”

Mosher writes that assistant director of player personnel Ed Marynowitz has also butted heads with Roseman.

Kelly praised Gamble when was asked about him possibly being a general manager candidate this offseason.

“I think Tom does an outstanding job and if he has the opportunity to do that, then I would support him anything,” Kelly said on Monday, via Zach Berman of Philly.com. “He’s a heck of a football guy.”

Mike Garafolo mentioned earlier in the day that there had been some “rumblings” that someone could be out in Philadelphia and added that owner Jeffery Lurie is “firmly behind” Roseman.

Lurie has publicly supported Kelly, Roseman and president Don Smolenski when asked about potential issues between the team’s head coach and general manager.

“I see two really valued executives in Chip and Howie,” Lurie said. “Add [team president] Don Smolenski to that. These are three obsessed-to-be-good executives. They have different roles, they cross over at different points, but I think you know me, I like to surround myself with not yes-men but strong, opinionated people that are really dedicated to making us really good and that’s what those three do, and I couldn’t be more proud of all three.”

Mosher writes that it’s fair to wonder whether Kelly plans to be around with the Eagles long-term now that they have parted ways with Gamble.

Gamble isn’t the first executive to be cut loose by the Eagles in recent years as they have also parted ways with Tom Heckert, Jason Licht and Louis Riddick.