SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Here was Evan Mathis, eight months removed from being released by Chip Kelly, rocking the Lombardi Trophy like a baby in the 49ers locker room over which his former boss now presides.
That Kelly thought cutting Mathis without better options would improve the Eagles in their quest for an elusive Super Bowl seems ludicrous now. The irony wasn't lost on the Broncos guard.
"I really like your new facility," Mathis said when asked if he had a message for Kelly, the new coach of the 49ers. "It's top of the line."
This is likely the closest Mathis will get to work for Kelly again, although stranger things have happened.