Programming note: Watch Chip Kelly's introductory press conference today at 11am on CSN Bay Area, and streaming live right here.
The 49ers hired Chip Kelly last Thursday, and will officially introduce him as the new head coach on Wednesday morning.
"I was probably a little bit more positive and excited about the Chip Kelly hire," former 49ers tight end Brent Jones said on KNBR 680 on Tuesday evening. "In terms of the people that they were looking at, he was the one that I thought would bring intrigue, would bring some offensive expertise and some level of interest back to the team. We kind of lost that this last year...
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
[MAIOCCO: McCoy: 49ers' offense will put up big numbers under Kelly]
"He's gonna bring structure to the team. Let's face it, for the last year, year and a half, we haven't had any structure. It didn't feel like much discipline. We were rag-tag. There were games where it didn't look like we were putting forth 100 percent effort. I don't think you're gonna get that with Chip Kelly."
Three days after their loss to Washington officially eliminated them from playoff contention, the Eagles fired Kelly.
In 2013, Kelly's first season, Philadelphia won the NFC East.
San Francisco 49ers
In 2014, the Eagles went 10-6 but missed the playoffs.
He inherits a team that went 5-11, and fired its head coach after just one season at the helm.
[REWIND: Brent Jones: With York family, 'words ring hollow; talk is cheap']
"Talent matters. We've got to have a good draft class, we got to sign some free agents and we gotta fill some pretty big holes," Jones explained. "But I'm more optimistic I think at this stage than maybe some other people are. I'm interested to see how things are gonna go here.
"It seems intriguing. It seems like we need something different. We needed structure, we needed some leadership and a scheme and a way to do things ... maybe talent wise we're not where we need to be in the NFC West. But hopefully we're gonna be on the right path."
Trent Baalke and the 49ers are expected to have approximately $50 million in cap space to work with this offseason.
San Francisco is slated to select No. 7 overall in the NFL Draft.
Although Jones has been critical of Baalke and CEO Jed York in the past, he's going in to the Chip Kelly era with an open mind.
[RELATED: Brent Jones calls out Baalke, thinks GM on 'relatively short leash']
"Along the way, we said Jed's actions will speak louder than words. This was an aggressive hire, high risk-high reward, and that says something to me," Jones said. "... Start figuring out a way to bring this proud organization back.
"So I'm cautiously optimistic. I have to be. I'm a fan of the Bay Area and I want our team to be good again. This last year hurt, it was crummy, it was hard to watch, it was not fun."