During his Monday morning guest appearance on WJOX 94.5 FM radio program The Opening Drive, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum gave his opinion on ESPN colleague Chip Kelly's coaching future.
Videos by FanBuzz
Kelly, who had previously coached at Oregon before spending four seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016), has been linked to numerous college jobs and is expected to be the biggest name on the market next offseason.
Finebaum, a Tennessee alum, said he's spoken with Kelly and joked about him being linked to the Vols next season.
"It's an awkward kabuki dance every Sunday morning about 7:15 when I bump into him," Finebaum said on the air, "because I have the same response wherever I have previously been, I say 'Chip, I was in Knoxville yesterday, saw a lot of signs with your name on it. Anything new?' He says, 'Haven't gotten a call yet.'
"I mean, I've talked to him. I don't want to speak for him because I don't know him that well... I think he clearly wants to coach. He's up there (at ESPN) studying college football, and I do believe he will be back very quickly."
Tennessee coach Butch Jones hasn't been fired just yet, but BetOnline.ag already has odds ranking his potential successors. Unsurprisingly, Kelly (+325) is the favorite to coach the Vols next season.
Kelly led Oregon to a 46-7 (33-3 Pac-12) overall record from 2009-2012, which included four BCS bowl game appearances, three Pac-12 conference championships and a BCS title game appearance in 2010.
