Report: UVA’s Bill Lazor Joining Kelly’s Staff

Another day, another coach reportedly added to Chip Kelly’s staff.

Virgina offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor will join the Eagles, according to Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com.

The report does not specify what Lazor’s role will be with the Eagles, and the team is not confirming any hires until the entire staff is in place.

A reasonable guess would be that Lazor fills the void at quarterbacks coach. Pat Shurmur is expected to take over as offensive coordinator. Duce Staley will coach running backs and Ted Williams will direct tight ends. According to reports, Bob Bicknell will also join Kelly’s staff, although his role is unclear. Bicknell has experience coaching tight ends, wide receivers and the offensive line.

Update: Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Lazor will indeed take over as QBs coach.

Lazor, 40, spent three seasons at UVA and has seven years of NFL experience. He served as the quarterbacks coach of the Seahawks in 2008 and 2009 – first working under Mike Holmgren and then Jim L. Mora. In 2006 and 2007, Lazor was the Redskins’ quarterbacks coach under Joe Gibbs. He also served two years as an offensive assistant with Washington in 2004 and 2005.

In Seattle, Lazor worked with Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace. In Washington, Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell and Todd Collins.

Lazor’s first NFL job was with Dan Reeves and the Falcons as offensive quality control coach in 2003. He spent two seasons (2001 and 2002) as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at University of Buffalo. And Lazor was on Cornell’s coaching staff from 1994 to 2000.

In November, Lazor interviewed for Georgia State’s head-coaching job, according to reports. Last year, there were rumors that he was close to joining Greg Schiano’s staff in Tampa Bay.

According to David Teel of the Daily Press, Lazor ran a pro-style offense at Virginia and was an “imaginative” play-caller.

In 1991, Kelly coached Columbia’s outside linebackers and strong safeties, while Lazor was in his third year as Cornell’s quarterback. According to the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Lazor and Penn State’s Bill O’Brien are friends. O’Brien and Kelly have a connection also.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
Become a fan of Birds 24/7 on Facebook.