In a statement issued by the Philadelphia Eagles, former Oregon coach Chip Kelly responded to the NCAA Committee on Infractions report on recruiting violations committed by the football program:

“Now that the NCAA has concluded their investigation and penalized the University of Oregon and its football program, I want to apologize to the University of Oregon, all of its current and former players and their fans,” Kelly said in a statement. “I accept my share of responsibility for the actions that led to the penalties. As I have I stated before, the NCAA investigation and subsequent ruling had no impact on my decision to leave Oregon for Philadelphia. I have also maintained throughout that I had every intention to cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation, which I did.”

It is possible, though unlikely, that the NFL will take action against Kelly. In wake of sanctions handed down to Ohio State University in 2011, former Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel resigned from his head coaching duties. Shortly after, Tressel was hired by the Indianapolis Colts as a consultant, but had to serve a seven week suspension.

There are obvious differences between the two cases, the most important being the fact that Tressel initially lied to the NCAA. The Committee on Infractions echoed in their report what they had been saying all along; Kelly was honest and compliant.

While the sanctions will likely not affect Kelly in the NFL, his departure from Oregon could have been a major factor in the Committee on Infractions decision.