San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly says he was surprised by Jarryd Hayne's announcement he was retiring from the NFL to play rugby sevens for Fiji at the Olympics.
Kelly also doused speculation the 49ers were planning to cut Hayne, which led to the Australian making a face-saving exit.
The 49ers instead were bullish on Hayne, praising his ability to pick up Kelly's new offence and excited about using his powerful, 188cm body and skills.
"He's a really sharp learner," Kelly told reporters on Tuesday at the 49ers' Santa Clara facility.
"We were excited. He's a big body and has a skill set."