When Chip Kelly was hired by the Eagles back in 2013, every team in the NFC East tried to react in the exact same way.
They all tried to hire former Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti.
"I have been asked by everybody in the NFC East," Aliotti, now retired, told The Oregonian on Monday. "The Giants asked me to come back when Chip got the first job. I didn't feel right doing that. Some teams have called when they're getting ready to play the Eagles and they call and have certain questions on the thing. Unless I know the guy and he's a good friend, I don't get involved with that."
It's an incredible bit of loyalty displayed by Aliotti, a 60-year-old who could have easily cashed in on other teams' desperation surrounding Kelly and his game-changing offense. It also shows how much of an unknown Kelly truly was during that first NFL season.
That's why the insight seems so valuable and so hard to come by. Even with a combination of Mark Sanchez and Nick Foles at quarterback, the Eagles are fourth in total offense and average almost six yards per play.
But, for now, Aliotti sounds like a coach perfectly comfortable in retirement.
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