Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck Appears to Address UCLA Rumors As Chip Kelly Departs

He was considered to be a top candidate for UCLA’s coaching vacancy.

Barring a change of heart, it appears that Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck will not be the next head coach at UCLA amid Chip Kelly’s departure for Ohio State’s offensive coordinator job.

Fleck, who was rumored to be one of the early candidates to replace Kelly in Los Angeles, interrupted a wedding anniversary trip to address his potential candidacy.

“Honored to be the Head Football Coach at Minnesota!! Ready for an ELITE 2024 season!! Now, back to our wedding anniversary trip!!” Fleck posted on X.

Honored to be the Head Football Coach at Minnesota!! Ready for an ELITE 2024 season!!

Now, back to our wedding anniversary trip!! #RTB #HYPRR #SkiUMah

🚣🏽‍♀️🐿️

— P.J. Fleck (@Coach_Fleck) February 11, 2024

Former ESPN analyst and current Action Network insider Brett McMurphy was one of the college football pundits to speculate Fleck potentially heading to Los Angeles.

In seven seasons at Minnesota, Fleck has posted a 50–34 record with five bowl appearances. He’s won nine games or more on three separate occasions, including in 2019 when the Golden Gophers went 11–2 and won the Outback Bowl.

UCLA will now move on in its coaching search, which is still in its early stages following Kelly’s departure from the school on Friday. As the Bruins enter Big Ten play, it will do so with a new coach.

Just don’t expect it to be Fleck.