PHILADELPHIA -- Jeff Lurie used an interesting phrase when he talked about the Philadelphia Eagles’ search for a new head coach to replace Chip Kelly.

“We’re going to look at NFL coaches, NFL coordinators, college coaches, retired coaches -- any category you can come up with,” Lurie said. “It’s open.”

The reference to “retired coaches” jumped out, and it could indicate which way Lurie is leaning.

Before hiring Kelly in 2013, Lurie interviewed Brian Billick, the former Baltimore Ravens head coach. Lurie also has a relationship with ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden, who was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator from 1995 through 1997.

Billick is 61. Gruden is 52, the same age as Kelly. Both have Super Bowl rings. Both have stayed involved with the game as broadcasters. Billick’s willingness to interview last time around certainly suggests that he’d be open to returning to coaching.

Lurie may have learned from the process that resulted in the hiring of Kelly. While it was a “bold move” to lure Kelly from Oregon, as Lurie put it, there is something to be said for coaches with a firm handle on winning in the NFL.

Bruce Arians, who was hired by the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, has been the best head coach from that hiring cycle. Arians’ Cardinals are 13-2 and legitimate Super Bowl contenders this season. Arians is 63, two years older than Billick and 11 years older than Gruden.

Of the current college coaches, Lurie also has a relationship with Stanford coach David Shaw, who was an Eagles assistant coach in the mid-1990s. Tight end Zach Ertz, who played for Shaw at Stanford, endorsed him as a candidate.

“He comes from the [Jim] Harbaugh tree,” Ertz said. “Harbaugh had a lot of success in the NFL. Coach Shaw has done an unbelievable job at Stanford. I know he was here in Philadelphia. He enjoyed his time in Philadelphia.

“He’s an unbelievable coach and an unbelievable person. He has a ringing endorsement from me. I don’t know if he’d ever want to leave Stanford because of what it means to him and his family, but he’s got a huge endorsement from me.”

Of NFL assistants, candidates such as Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels make a lot of sense. McDaniels was head coach of the Denver Broncos for two seasons. He also spent a season as offensive coordinator in St. Louis, where he worked with quarterback Sam Bradford.

On the defensive side, Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott is a Philadelphia native who spent 10 years on Andy Reid’s staff with the Eagles. McDermott likely will be a popular candidate going forward.

One of the reasons Lurie fired Kelly this week was that he wanted to get a head start on the hiring process. He can’t interview assistants whose teams are in the playoffs, but he can talk to Gase, for example, as soon as Monday.

But keep an eye on those retired coaches Lurie mentioned. He is allowed to talk to Billick, Gruden or Bill Cowher any time he wants.