UCLA Football: 3 ways Chip Kelly can keep job past 2020 season

3. Kelly must win UCLA football players over

This isn’t going to be easy. When players voiced concerns over returning without a third party making sure Chip Kelly and his staff followed the proper procedures and protocols regarding COVID-19, it was clear that there had been a break in trust. Somewhere along the line, Kelly lost his locker room and he needs to get it back.

It’ll all have to start with him addressing the team and making sure they know that he’s looking out for them and will do everything to protect his guys moving forward.

Next, he’ll have to prove that by acting on those promises. It’s one thing to talk the talk, but he needs to start walking the walk if he wants to win his players over.

After that, he’ll have to start showing that he cares about his players and form off-field relationships with the guys. Whether it’s team-bonding movie or bowling nights or just meeting individually with these guys to see how they’re doing and checking in. That means a lot more to athletes than people realize.

Lastly, he needs to remain consistent. Don’t go back on all of this change after one season, it needs to be worked on for the remainder of his UCLA days and beyond.

If he wins back that locker room, the on-field results will improve and his job will be safe.