Chip Kelly to Oversee Player Personnel Department in Eagles' Structural Changes

Shortly following speculation that Chip Kelly might be on his way out of Philadelphia, the Eagles announced on Friday that Kelly is not only staying on, but he'll also be assuming more power in the personnel department:

Team owner Jeffrey Lurie said the move is a part of Philadelphia's larger plan to improve on the field:

"I am very confident about where we are headed as a team and as an organization," Kelly said in the team's press release. "I look forward to continue working with Jeffrey and (general manager Howie Roseman) as well as the personnel department."

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora adds another note about the front office:

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Howie Roseman's extension runs through the end of this decade from what I hear. Jeffrey Lurie was adamant about keeping him in Philly

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 2, 2015"

The rumors of Kelly's departure stemmed from a tweet sent by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio implying the Eagles could be on the verge of making a major personnel move:

Mike Sielski of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that a potential rift had formed between Kelly and Roseman following the departure of Tom Gamble, the team's former vice president of player personnel. The firing helped illustrate Kelly and Roseman's philosophical differences:

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It's that dichotomy between Roseman's background and Kelly's and Gamble's backgrounds that led to Gamble's departure. Roseman is not regarded as a "football guy," and to look at him is to understand why. At 39, he's the youngest GM in the league. He doesn't cut a physically commanding figure. He began his career in the NFL as a numbers cruncher. But he has been with the franchise long enough, and (team owner Jeffrey) Lurie's loyalty has empowered him enough, that he is unafraid to go toe-to-toe with Kelly or Gamble or anyone else. Lurie likes to think of this dynamic as a form of creative tension, but when it comes to Roseman, it seems that the accent is often on the tension.

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Sielski then argued that Kelly might be better off leaving the franchise if he and Roseman don't see eye to eye.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer and former Eagles scout John Middlekauff threw wet blankets on the fire, reporting that any sort of change in leadership was unlikely:

Tim McManus of Philadelphia magazine added that the team could undergo some changes this offseason but that the head coach and general manager look to be staying right where they are:

The idea of Kelly leaving Philadelphia always seemed a bit remote. He's won 10 games with the team in each of his first two seasons, taking the Eagles to playoffs in his first year and nearly doing so again in his second.

The franchise is obviously going forward under Kelly's stewardship, and that trend should continue now that his role with the team is more defined.