Jarryd Hayne
Jarryd Hayne will return to the San Francisco 49ers next season. Reuters/Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers running back Jarryd Hayne will return to the team for the 2016-2017 NFL season, and there is no one more excited handling the Australian rugby league star and his teammates than newly-minted head coach Chip Kelly.

Niners general manager Trent Baalke confirmed to Fox Sports that Hayne will be back with the club for the next season. It remains to be seen whether Hayne will have an increased role under Kelly, who has been hired following a dismal season, but Baalke admitted that the former Eels player has a chance of impressing the team’s new coaching staff.

"​We haven't spent a ton of time speaking about individual players on a roster yet but I'll tell you he's well aware of Jarryd and Jarryd's story, as is everyone in the National Football League by now,” Baalke told Michael Cammas of the Sydney Morning Herald. "He's excited to get his hands on him, the whole coaching staff is.”

Hayne started the 2015-2016 season in the 49ers’ active roster after turning heads during his remarkable preseason stint. However, midway through the regular season, the Aussie running back was relegated to the San Francisco’s practice squad, which Baalke described was a move to give Hayne more “seasoning” in playing American football.

"We like Jarryd, we like him a lot. He's an excellent teammate, the guys love him, he's a talented athlete,”Baalke added. “Now can he make the transition and make the big jump to put himself in a position to be on the 53 – hopefully the 46?”

Kelly has been known for his explosive type of offense which heavily involves running backs. If given the opportunity, Hayne’s potential could be in full display in his sophomore season with the 49ers.

There was uncertainty around Hayne’s NFL future when the team fired Jim Tomsula and brought in Kelly, who was also fired by the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the regular season. But with all the positivity ahead of the offseason, the “Hayne Plane” is on track to take flight at the Home of the Faithful.

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