SANTA CLARA -– Chip Kelly said he holds Jim Harbaugh in high regard.
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.
CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke traveled to Kelly’s home in New Hampshire on Jan. 7 for the first interview. Kelly was invited to the Bay Area to meet them again, this time at Baalke’s home in San Jose. Both sides were convinced this was a union that can work.
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“I was confident in meeting with Trent and Jed about what the vision and focus of this organization was,” Kelly said on Wednesday during his introductory press conference at Levi’s Stadium.
“I’ve got great respect for Jim. I competed against him when he was at Stanford. I competed against him when he was in the National Football League. I’m a big Jim Harbaugh fan, and I know he’s having great success at Michigan. But I think one thing all coaches know is we rent. We rent our locker spaces. We’re not going to be places for an extended period of time.”
A source told CSNBayArea.com the circumstances behind Harbaugh’s departure from the 49ers was brought up with the seven candidates the 49ers interviewed for the job.
[MAIOCCO: Kelly's vision for 49ers: 'I want them to be fearless']
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It was widely reported the 49ers discussed a contract extension during the summer of 2013 that would have significantly raised Harbaugh’s $5 million annual salary. After two offseasons in which the sides failed to reach a contract extension, the 49ers and Harbaugh went in different directions with an announced "mutual parting" when the 49ers went 8-8 in 2014.
The 49ers struggled under Jim Tomsula’s direction, and Harbaugh experienced great success in his first season at Michigan. Tomsula was fired after a 5-11 season. The 49ers will owe him $10.5 million over the final three years of his contract.
Kelly said he is not concerned about the 49ers' recent coaching history involving Harbaugh and Tomsula. Just two weeks after the Philadelphia Eagles fired him, Kelly signed a four-year, $24 million contract with the 49ers.
“You just have to do the best job you possibly can,” Kelly said. “If you go into a situation worrying about, ‘Am I not going to be there next year or the year after?’ You’re probably not going to be. What you need to worry about is what’s going on today.
“I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to work with Trent. I’m excited to work with Jed. I’m excited to work with (senior personnel executive) Tommy Gamble. I’m excited to work with (outgoing team president) Paraag (Marathe) in terms of putting the best football team we can on the field.”
Kelly becomes the third 49ers coach in three seasons, but York promised Kelly will be around for a while.
“Chip’s going to be here for a long time," York said. "Period.”