Chip Kelly denies he would head back to Oregon

The San Francisco 49ers are 3,000 miles from home this week while training in Orlando, Fla. But one thing hasn't changed: News travels fast.

Coming off an encouraging loss to Miami, and four days away from what seems to be a winnable game at Chicago, 49ers head coach Chip Kelly spent more than one-third of his midweek press conference Wednesday talking college football.

Oregon's firing of Mark Helfrich, to be specific.

"I just felt bad for Mark," Kelly said of his reaction to Tuesday's news. "I love him like a brother."

Kelly and Helfrich have been connected for nine years.

Both were candidates for the Oregon offensive coordinator position in 2007. Kelly got the job.

Then two years later, when Kelly was promoted to head coach, he hired Helfrich to be his offensive coordinator.

They worked side by side for four years, until Kelly went to the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. Helfrich was promoted to head coach at that point.

"He's a heckuva football coach, but he's an even better person," Kelly said. "So, just felt for him and the rest of the guys on that staff. It's an unfortunate thing that goes on in this profession. We all knew it when we signed up for it. But when it happens, you're still kind of taken aback by it."

Kelly's name had been floated in rumors in recent weeks in reference to other college jobs. He insisted he would be staying with the 49ers.

In light of the news closer to home, he was asked again Wednesday.

"Yup," he insisted of staying with the 49ers. "So, we're done with that, I hope."

Uh, not exactly.

Any chance Kelly will return to the Ducks next season?

"No," he insisted.

Kelly had a 46-7 record in four seasons at Oregon, including 33-3 (four division titles) in the Pacific-12 Conference. His club played in the BCS Championship Game in 2010, sandwiching two trips to the Rose Bowl.

He has since gone 27-31 in the NFL, winning a division title with the Eagles in his first season (2013). He has yet to win a playoff game.

By comparison, Helfrich went 37-16 at Oregon, including 24-12 in the Pac-12. The Ducks struggled to a 4-8 season this year.

Kelly hasn't discussed the possibility of hiring his buddy to be the 49ers' offensive coordinator next season. That job currently belongs to Curtis Modkins.

The 49ers have struggled offensively this season, ranking 30th in the NFL in passing offense and 28th in total offense.