Report: LSU to officially 'fire' coach departed coach Brian Kelly

Field Level Media|published: Fri 21st November, 14:33 2025

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

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

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