Sports

Chip Kelly arrives to a hero's welcome in Philadelphia as he's officially introduced by Eagles

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Chip Kelly arrives at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, in Philadelphia. Oregon's enigmatic NCAA college football head coach of four years surprised the school with an early morning phone call Wednesday to say he was leaving to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles NFL football team, just a little more than a week after he told Oregon he was staying. (AP Photo/The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Swanson) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT (The Associated Press)

Chip Kelly speaks to members of the media as he arrives at Northeast Philadelphia Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, in Philadelphia. Oregon's enigmatic NCAA college football head coach of four years surprised the school with an early morning phone call Wednesday to say he was leaving to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles NFL football team, just a little more than a week after he told Oregon he was staying. (AP Photo/The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Swanson) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT (The Associated Press)

A sign reading "Our Chip's Come In" greeted Chip Kelly outside the Philadelphia Eagles' practice facility on his first day as head coach, and a few fans drove down Pattison Avenue honking their horns to salute the hiring.

A new era for the Eagles has begun.

Kelly was hired Wednesday to be the 21st coach in team history, ending an exhaustive search to replace Andy Reid.

The offensive innovator was lured away from Oregon, where he went 46-7 in four seasons and turned the program into a national powerhouse.

Though Kelly has no previous NFL experience, the Eagles are banking on him to turn around a franchise that has just 12 wins in the last two years and zero playoff victories since 2008.

Kelly, who arrived to a hero's welcome at a Philadelphia airport on Wednesday night, was introduced at a news conference Thursday at the team's training complex.