He also had kind words for the players he coached.
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“I’m am deeply grateful to Jeffrey Lurie for allowing me to coach his Philadelphia Eagles for the past three seasons,” Kelly said in a statement released about 24 hours after his dismissal. “I deeply regret that we did not bring this great city and its fans the championship they deserve. I was blessed to work with a gifted and hard-working coaching staff every day, and they will succeed wherever they go.
“Finally, my players mean the world to me. I will miss them very much and I will be rooting for them to achieve their dreams. Life is all about responding to challenges and seizing opportunities.”
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Kelly’s nearly three-year tenure with the Eagles, who will finish their season Sunday against the Giants, ended with a 26-21 regular-season record, including a 6-9 mark this year. He went 10-6 in each of his first two seasons with the Eagles, winning the NFC East in 2013.
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He hopes to land another NFL job, possibly with the Titans and his former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
