The Florida Gators' pursuit of Chip Kelly picked steam on Sunday.
UF athletics director Scott Stricklin and school president Kent Fuchs were among of group of six who flew to Portsmouth, N.H., Sunday to meet with Kelly, according to an Orlando Sentinel source.
Stricklin and Co. flew out of Ocala early Sunday afternoon and arrived late Sunday night. Kelly was not with them.
Stricklin told 247Sports, "We've got a process we're going to. There will probably be some more productive conversations in the days ahead."
Whether those conversations lead to Kelly becoming UF's next head football coach is unclear. On Sunday, UCLA fired Jim Mora Jr. after six seasons to open a job that also might appeal to Kelly, who made his name coaching in the Pac-12 at Oregon.
The 53-year-old Kelly, a New Hampshire native, is currently an ESPN football analyst after a failed one-year stint in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers.
Asked on ESPN's SportsCenter about his interest in the Gators' job, Kelly joked, "Is this your way of firing me?"
Kelly then said whoever becomes the Gators' next coach "will be really lucky."
Some internet reports already have tabbed Kelly the Gators' next head coach once contract details are ironed out and assistant coaching options are vetted by UF.
Speculation of Kelly's imminent hire ramped up last week, with speculation he was on a flight to Gainesville, Fla.
Kelly said he instead spent last week in New Hampshire, where he was born, played college football and coached for a dozen seasons before hitting the big time.
Kelly turned Oregon into a national power during four seasons (2009-2012) as a head coach, leading the Ducks to a 46-7 records, four straight BCS bowl appearances and the 2011 national championship game.
Kelly then headed to the NFL to coach the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016).
