EXCLUSIVE
Chip Kelly claims he’s not interested in returning to Oregon … but that’s not keeping Walter Thurmond from hoping his old coach returns to Eugene … ’cause the ex-Ducks star says “he’s the best candidate.”
Thurmond — a member of Oregon’s 2009 Pac 10 champion team — disagrees with the decision to fire Mark Helfrich after a 4-8 season, but says Kelly would be the best fit to come back to Oregon’s sidelines.
“I think knowing the coach, knowing the atmosphere, knowing the people, I think that would be the best candidate to be able to bring him back.”
Kelly went 46-7 as Oregon’s coach from 2009-12, and told reporters earlier this week that he wasn’t interested in the gig … but Thurmond thinks it could be all talk.
“He did the same thing before he said he was coming out to the NFL, so you never know with him.”
