Tag: Brian Kelly

Reports: Brian Kelly officially terminated; LSU to pay full buyout

Posted on | by Field Level Media

LSU has ended the standoff with Brian Kelly.

The school sent a formal letter Wednesday declaring the former head coach has been fired without cause, which means Kelly is owed $54 million for the six years remaining on his contract, according to multiple reports.

The letter, signed by new LSU president Wade Rousse, also invokes the contract’s mitigation clause. Kelly must make “good-faith, reasonable and sustained efforts to obtain qualifying employment” while damages are owed, ESPN reports.

The move closes weeks of mixed signals. LSU initially framed the Oct. 26 dismissal as performance-related, then left wiggle room after public pressure from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.

Kelly’s camp responded in court. His attorneys sought a declaratory judgment, arguing LSU officials had told them he wasn’t “formally terminated,” questioned whether then-athletic director Scott Woodward had authority to fire him and floated cause-based grounds that weren’t pursued adequately under the contract.

Wednesday’s letter effectively shuts that door. It confirms the clean, without-cause termination and the full buyout, which is mitigated only by Kelly finding his next job. Kelly, 64, has indicated he intends to coach again next season.

The timing is not subtle. LSU is pressing ahead with its pursuit of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, a courtship expected to come to a head this weekend, and LSU appears ready to commit significant dollars if Kiffin jumps.

On the field, Kelly’s tenure never matched the paycheck after he signed a 10-year, $95 million deal in November 2021. He went 34-14 with a 3-0 bowl mark, but LSU never finished higher than No. 12, fell outside the Top 25 last season and was 5-3 when he was dismissed following a 49-25 loss vs. Texas A&M.

Since then, interim Frank Wilson has steadied the Tigers at 2-1, beating Arkansas and Western Kentucky after a 20-9 loss to Alabama in Wilson’s debut. LSU sits at 7-4 heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale against No. 8 Oklahoma.

–Field Level Media

Brian Kelly’s lawyers: LSU ‘made it nearly impossible’ to get new job

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Attorneys representing Brian Kelly have alleged that LSU’s handling of the embattled coach’s buyout negotiations has become an obstacle for him to be hired elsewhere.

Kelly’s team sent a pair of letters last week to new LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and board of supervisors member John Carmouche, which accused the university of harming Kelly’s future employment opportunities by not confirming that he was fired without cause.

“As you know, there is absolutely no basis to LSU’s contrived positions that Coach Kelly was not terminated or that cause existed for such termination,” a letter sent Nov. 18 and obtained by multiple outlets said. “LSU’s conduct, including its failure to confirm that Coach Kelly was terminated without cause and its unsupported allegations of misconduct on the part of Coach Kelly, has made it nearly impossible for Coach Kelly to secure other football-related employment.”

A follow-up letter dated Nov. 19 reportedly said Kelly would withdraw his lawsuit against the school if LSU would confirm in writing that he was fired without cause, meaning the decision had solely to do with the football team’s performance.

Kelly filed his suit in a Louisiana court earlier this month seeking confirmation that LSU fired him without cause and therefore owed him the rest of the money on his contract. His buyout was worth between $53-54 million when LSU dismissed him Oct. 26 after a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M.

That lawsuit said LSU informed Kelly he had not yet been “formally terminated” and that the school was planning to argue he would be fired for cause. But Kelly’s buyout clause includes offset language if he is able to land a new job, which could reduce some of the total LSU owes him.

LSU’s board on Friday voted in favor of allowing new university president Wade Rousse to formally terminate Kelly. LSU has not commented on the ongoing matter.

–Field Level Media

Report: LSU to officially ‘fire’ coach departed coach Brian Kelly

Posted on | by Field Level Media

LSU intends to send former football coach Brian Kelly an official notice of termination, The Advocate in Baton Rouge reported Friday.

Per the report, the LSU board of supervisors met in executive session Friday and unanimously authorized new university president Wade Rousse to give formal notice to the coach.

This action is in response to a lawsuit Kelly filed against the board on Nov. 10. In his case, Kelly is contending that LSU is saying he was fired for an unspecified “cause” instead of for performance in an attempt to avoid paying the nearly $54 million buyout specified in his contract.

Kelly’s case also said that LSU was claiming Kelly hadn’t been legally fired when the coaching change was announced on Oct. 26 because since-departed athletic director Scott Woodward didn’t have the authority to do so.

In his lawsuit, filed in the 19th Judicial District for East Baton Rouge Parish, Kelly is asking a judge to clarify that he was not fired for cause and is entitled to the full buyout.

Kelly, 64, reportedly declined previous offers of $25 million and $30 million to pay off his contract.

On the day Kelly was let go, the Tigers were 5-3 (2-3 Southeastern Conference) on the season and coming off a 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M. LSU is 1-1 in conference play since.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on during the first quarter against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Brian Kelly sues LSU as buyout fight continues

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former LSU coach Brian Kelly is taking the school to court, asking a judge to clarify that he was not fired for cause and is entitled to a buyout of close to $54 million.

Kelly’s attorneys sued the school late Monday, hours after LSU representatives told them via phone on Monday that Kelly hadn’t actually been terminated when LSU’s coaching change was announced on Oct. 26 and now were seeking to do so for cause.

The Baton Rouge Advocate, which reviewed the 48-page court filing, reported that the petition for declaratory judgment revealed LSU’s stand as follows:

“LSU took the position that Coach Kelly had not been formally terminated and informed Coach Kelly’s representatives, for the very first time, that LSU believed grounds for termination for cause existed,” the lawsuit said.

The suit was filed in the 19th Judicial District for East Baton Rouge Parish.

LSU has not said publicly what contractual issue Kelly might have breached to have been fired for cause.

The two sides have been squabbling over the $54 million buyout, with Kelly turning down two settlement offers, per The Advocate.

Kelly’s attorneys had given the school a Monday deadline of 6 p.m. ET to confirm in writing that they intended to pay him the full amount, or he would “pursue all available legal remedies,” per the report.

If he were to be fired for cause, LSU would not be bound to pay the full buyout.

Kelly was removed from the job after a 5-3 start to his fourth season with the Tigers. He signed a 10-year, $95 million deal in November 2021.

At the time of the coaching change, LSU sounded very much like a school that had fired its coach based on performance on the field. In a school news release, now-former athletic director Scott Woodward said this, the day after the Tigers lost to No. 3 Texas A&M:

“When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge,” Woodward said. “Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game. … We will continue to negotiate his separation and will work toward a path that is better for both parties.”

According to the filing, LSU’s representatives told Kelly’s team that Woodward did not have “the authority to terminate Coach Kelly and/or make settlement offers to him” in October, meaning Kelly technically was not terminated, ESPN reported.

Woodward was dismissed by the LSU board of supervisors days later after Gov. Jeff Landry blasted the terms of the Kelly contract and vowed Woodward would not be involved in hiring the Tigers’ next coach.

Kelly, 64, compiled a 34-14 record at LSU. His 200-76 career record (10-6 in bowl games) includes stops at Central Michigan (2004-06), Cincinnati (2007-09) and Notre Dame (2010-21).

–Field Level Media

Report: Brian Kelly rebuffs LSU settlement offers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former LSU coach Brian Kelly rejected two settlement offers and is seeking the full $54 million buyout owed under the terms of his contract, the Baton Rouge Advocate reported.

Kelly’s attorneys have given the school a Monday deadline of 6 p.m. ET to confirm in writing that that they will pay him the full amount, or he will “pursue all available legal remedies,” per the report.

Kelly was fired on Oct. 26 after a 5-3 start to his fourth season with the Tigers. He signed a 10-year, $95 million deal in November 2021.

According to the report, Kelly turned down a lump-sum offer of $25 million from former LSU athletic director Scott Woodward on Oct. 30 — the day Woodward was fired — and later declined a $30 million offer in two payments from executive deputy athletic director Julie Cromer.

Kelly, 64, compiled a 34-14 record at LSU. His 200-76 career record (10-6 in bowl games) includes stops at Central Michigan (2004-06), Cincinnati (2007-09) and Notre Dame (2010-21).

Associate head coach/running backs coach Frank Wilson is serving as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Tigers (5-4, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) fell 20-9 at No. 4 Alabama on Saturday in Wilson’s debut.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Louisiana State Tigers head coach Brian Kelly during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

LSU fires Brian Kelly after not reaching success level ‘that LSU demands’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

LSU fired head football coach Brian Kelly on Sunday night, less than four years after he was hired away from Notre Dame and one day after a 49-25 home loss to No. 3 Texas A&M.

“When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge,” director of athletics Scott Woodward said in a statement.

“Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game. I am grateful for the ongoing consultations and support of the LSU Board of Supervisors and Interim President Matt Lee in this decision. We wish Coach Kelly and his family the very best in their future endeavors. We will continue to negotiate his separation and will work toward a path that is better for both parties.”

Associate head coach/running backs coach Frank Wilson will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season for the Tigers (5-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference). Woodward said that LSU will immediately begin a national search for a new head coach.

Kelly, who recorded a 34-14 record with the Tigers, was shown the door one day after his 20th-ranked Tigers turned an 18-14 halftime lead into a 24-point home loss to the Aggies.

The result was so dispiriting, fans in Tiger Stadium chanted “Fire Kelly” and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry weighed in on social media Saturday night: “I think @LSUSports and the LSU Board of Supervisors needs to rethink their actions to raise ticket prices for next year after tonight’s showing!”

According to CBS Sports, Landry also was involved in Sunday’s discussions that led to Kelly’s ousting. The team was scheduled to hear the news officially during a meeting at 8 p.m. CT. Kelly will be owed about $54 million in a contract buyout, according to reports.

LSU opened its season 4-0 to climb as high as No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, but the Tigers dropped three of their last four to fall out of the poll released Sunday. It’s the second year in a row LSU has tumbled out of the Top 25 during the latter half of the season.

Those nosedives are in sharp contrast to the successes of Kelly’s predecessors at LSU. Nick Saban went 13-1 and won the 2003 national championship in his fourth season, Les Miles went 12-2 and won the 2007 BCS Championship in his third season and Ed Orgeron went 15-0 to claim the 2019 BCS title in his third full season.

Kelly, on the other hand, led the Tigers wins in the 2022 Citrus Bowl, the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl and the 2024 Texas Bowl. They made one appearance in the SEC title game in 2022, his first season, and lost 50-30 to No. 1 Georgia.

“As a proud alum, and as the current caretaker of our athletics programs, I will not compromise in our pursuit of excellence and we will not lower our standards,” Woodward said in the statement. “I continue to believe that LSU is the best football program in America and that our head coach position is among the best considering our investment, our ability to attract and retain talent, our unbelievable fans, and our institutional and statewide commitment to — and love for — LSU Football.”

The 64-year-old Kelly, who became Notre Dame’s winningest coach before jumping to Baton Rouge, becomes the third high-profile coach to be fired in as many Sundays as Penn State dismissed James Franklin on Oct. 12 and Florida fired Billy Napier on Oct. 19.

UCLA, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Arkansas, UAB and Colorado State also have ousted their head coaches since this season began.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns nose tackle Sydir Mitchell (90) runs out of the tunnel against the Kentucky Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images

LSU confirms DT Sydir Mitchell no longer with program

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LSU defensive tackle Sydir Mitchell is no longer a member of the team, head coach Brian Kelly confirmed Wednesday.

While speaking on the Southeastern Conference Coaches teleconference, Kelly said Mitchell did not meet “workplace standards.”

“Look, there are standards,” Kelly said. “I can confirm he is no longer on the roster but we have standards that need to be met. And those standards were not met. Like any business or organization, you have workplace standards. So, those standards were not met. That’s all I’m going to talk about relative to Sydir because he’s no longer with us.”

The 6-foot-6, 355-pound Mitchell transferred to LSU from Texas in the offseason but did not play in the first two games for the No. 3 Tigers.

He was a three-star prospect from Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey in the 2023 class. He entered the transfer portal last Dec. 16 and committed to LSU four days later.

He made seven tackles in nine games at Texas.

–Field Level Media

Jul 16, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly talks to the media during SEC Media Day at Omni Atlanta Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Brian Kelly: Transparency, consistency key for college sports’ future

Posted on | by Field Level Media

When asked about the leadership governing college sports, LSU head coach Brian Kelly highlighted “transparency and consistency” as paramount.

“Those two words are probably the most important thing as we continue to move forward,” Kelly said at Southeastern Conference media days on Monday.

The 63-year-old also placed responsibility on coaches and emphasized the moral aspect of NIL and the evolving landscape of college athletics.

“It’s got to start with us. I mean, we have to be the stewards of this. There has to be a moral high ground,” Kelly said. “I was at a speaking engagement a few weeks back, and every question about the NIL was trying to find a way around it, trying to find a way to bring in revenue in some other way.

“Sooner or later, we have to take a stand that transparency, consistency, ethics and morality are at the core of this.”

Kelly, who is entering his fourth year at LSU and 22nd coaching at the FBS level, has been candid about the effects of NIL on recruiting in the past. He’s said that prospects now prioritize money over on-field and off-field development when choosing a school.

LSU faced this reality firsthand when Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2025, flipped his commitment from the Tigers to Michigan in December. The quarterback will reportedly receive an NIL deal worth between $10.5 million and $12 million over four years.

Conversely, Kelly and his wife, Paqui, donated $1 million to LSU’s NIL collective Monday as part of their “Kelly Family Million Dollar Match Fund.” The Kellys launched this initiative shortly after Underwood’s flip and pledged to match fan donations to the school’s NIL collective up to $1 million.

While the Tigers lost out on their potential quarterback of the future, Kelly is focused on the man under center this season.

Garrett Nussmeier is entering his fifth season and second year as LSU’s starting quarterback. He produced 4,052 passing yards and 29 touchdowns last season, but led the SEC with 12 interceptions thrown.

Kelly is confident Nussmeier will take a leap, but recognized that comparing him to the Heisman-winning LSU quarterbacks of the past sets lofty expectations.

“When you’re comparing (Nussmeier) to Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow, that’s a high bar for anybody, right?” Kelly said. “Garrett is at LSU because he loves LSU. He wants to lead our football team to a championship. If the Heisman follows with that, I think he’s good with that.”

One of Kelly’s primary goals is to set the tone for the season in the first week. During his team at LSU, Kelly is 0-3 in season openers. The Tigers kick off the 2025 season at Clemson.

“We needed to do some things differently this year. That is embrace the opener. Embracing it in the manner that this is a big game,” Kelly said. “It’s a tangible goal for our football team to want to be 1-0. That’s not, ‘Let’s warm up into the season.’ We want to be ready for this football game.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Brian Kelly: LSU learning money talks or five-stars walk

Posted on | by Field Level Media

When it comes to reeling in five-star recruits, LSU coach Brian Kelly shared his displeasure with the notion that money talks or five-star players walk on Signing Day.

While Kelly checked himself and noted not all recruits manage the process the same, he is concerned that many coveted high school players aren’t seeking the best fit, but the biggest paycheck to commit.

“It’s not just about finding the right fit, it’s about the most money I can get,” Kelly said. “That’s unfortunate, but it’s the world we live in. You realign and readjust.”

Two five-star recruits who committed to LSU opted to sign elsewhere in the past week. The Tigers are still feeling scorned by the decision of No. 1 overall recruit and quarterback Bryce Underwood bailing to play for Michigan. According to reports, his NIL offer was over $10 million.

“These guys wanted to be here … that’s much more important to me than the guys who didn’t want to be here,” Kelly said.

Life in the SEC is loaded with high-end recruits and high dollars in the era of NIL, which Kelly said turns Signing Day into “tax day.”

“Your brand has to be backed up by dollars. If you want to be able to close some of these. We have to have participation from a donor base,” he said, adding a program-building collective is mandatory in today’s landscape.

LSU didn’t come up empty on Wednesday, and Kelly was in a celebratory mood over the addition of five-star cornerback DJ Pickett, who also has the skills and experience to play on offense.

“We believe he is hands down the best cornerback in the country,” Kelly said. “Incredible length at 6-4. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt there’s a lockdown corner, but he is as close as it gets. And, his film on offense might be even better. He’s just elite.”

–Field Level Media

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly walks the field during pregame before the game against the Nicholls State Colonels at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

LSU alters schedule, bracing for Francine landfall

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South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer goes to significant lengths to help players prepare for “bad weather” games, and storms are possible Saturday in Columbia for the Gamecocks’ matchup with No. 16 LSU.

While the Tigers rearranged their schedule Wednesday to brace for the worst as Hurricane Francine threatens Louisiana and beyond, the Gamecocks are prepping equipment and could follow wet-weather prep protocol Beamer has used in the past. That includes dunking footballs in water, spraying players to get them accustomed to playing in rain and altering field conditions.

Practice was moved up for LSU on Wednesday. Head coach Brian Kelly and players got off the field at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night and were informed the next one started early in the morning on Wednesday.

“Players had to come back in this morning around 6:30 a.m.,” Kelly said. “That’s a bit of a turnaround. But they have the rest of the day to recover. We’re expecting some rain in Columbia on Saturday so it was good preparation for us working with the wet ball. The practice was what I expected it to be on a Wednesday. Hopefully this storm passes through without much damage and we’re able to get back to a regular schedule on Thursday.”

Kelly said he spent time Wednesday discussing expectations and a “no excuses” approach to ball security, reminding offensive players they have an advantage on cuts and breaks over defenders guessing where they might be going. But the key point in Wednesday’s morning session was to take care of the ball.

“I’ve had some quarterbacks that spin it better than others in wet conditions. You have to cradle the ball a little bit different in wet conditions,” Kelly said. “That’s why it was important for me to get outside. I want to practice in these conditions because I don’t think it’s the same. … More than anything else, it’s taking care of the football in these conditions. We were talking about today, especially in special teams, how important all of these things are, especially on the road.”

Kelly is attempting to keep his own weekly routine intact while focusing on South Carolina (2-0). He said LSU knew Beamer would have a heavyweight contender in 2024.

“He’s got a quarterback that is an ascending players in this league, a salty defense with playmakers on the edge,” Kelly said. “Just a great challenge. One that we knew coming in, early in our schedule, we knew we were going to need to get ready for. Sold out stadium, (ESPN College) GameDay.”

Beamer said the Gamecocks are confident but guarding against letting their guard down.

“We talked this morning, one of the keys for Saturday is we have to learn how to deal with success the right way,” Beamer said Wednesday. “And handle some of the, I don’t want to say distractions, but there is a lot going on this week that we didn’t have to deal with last week. Or that we didn’t get to deal with last week. I think it’s a positive, I think we need to get used to it. but one we need to make sure we are handling distractions the right way and we also have to handle success the right way. And we have to realize right now that the bandwagon is getting full.”

–Field Level Media