San Francisco 49ers

Chip Kelly adds another ex-Eagles assistant to 49ers staff

Published Feb. 10, 2016 11:33 a.m. ET

foxsports

Under Chip Kelly, San Francisco's coaching staff has become Eagles West.

A source told FOXSports.com that former Eagles assistant linebackers coach Brian Smith will join the 49ers as a defensive assistant.

Smith's hiring now makes six staff members who have followed Kelly from Philadelphia to the 49ers. The others are Bob Bicknell (wide receivers), Ryan Day (quarterbacks), Jerry Azzinaro (defensive line), Michael Clay (assistant special teams) and J.P. Crowley Hanlon (assistant to the coaching staff).

The 49ers must hope the group enjoys more success than last year in Philadelphia where the Eagles went 7-9, which led to Kelly's firing as head coach with one week left in the season.

Smith spent one year with the Eagles after eight seasons in various positions with the New York Jets. Smith will be working under 49ers linebacker coaches Hardy Nickerson (inside LBs) and Jason Tarver (outside LBs). Nickerson was hired away from Tampa Bay; Tarver was retained from the previous coaching staff.