That was quick.
Less than 24 hours after LSU football coach Brian Kelly suffered his lowest moment in four seasons as the Tigers’ coach in a 49-25 loss to No. 3 Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium Saturday night, he was fired on Sunday.
And contrary to some national and local reports and those by LSU, Kelly’s $52.3 million buyout with LSU is not up for negotiation from Kelly’s end, according to a highly connected LSU source. That’s $52,380,000, to be exact.
“Brian Kelly accepted his fate, but he is insisting on his full buyout,” the source told Tiger Rag Sunday night.
Kelly’s contract clearly states he is entitled to a buyout of $52.3 million if fired without cause in 2025. That buyout will easily be the largest ever to be paid to a coach in LSU history.
“I’m curious how LSU could ‘negotiate’ a $54 million buyout they agreed to pay Brian Kelly if they fired him without cause,” said long accomplished collegiate sports advocate attorney Tom Mars on his @TomMarsLaw twitter on Sunday. “That would be like trying to ‘negotiate’ with Chase Bank to let you pay off your car loan for less than what you owed.”
I’m curious how LSU could “negotiate” a $53 million buyout they agreed to pay Brian Kelly if they fired him without cause. That would be like trying to “negotiate” with Chase bank to let you pay off your car loan for less than what you owed. https://t.co/t8PVoDv8co
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) October 27, 2025
Nevertheless, a release by LSU, which also fed many reporters on the Kelly firing with this, said Sunday, “Terms of the separation are still being negotiated.”
Should Scott Woodward really be allowed to hire LSU’s next football coach, considering his track record in that sport? Column:https://t.co/cSU7rTItlS
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) October 18, 2025
Of course, LSU has reasons to hope the buyout is “still being negotiated.” About $52.3 million of them, thanks to athletic director Scott Woodward, who hired Kelly.
“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 in a statement Sunday night.
It was Woodward who hired Kelly away from Notre Dame after the 2021 season for $100 million over 10 years. Kelly made it through three seasons and eight games at 34-14 overall and 19-10 in the Southeastern Conference with one West title in his first season in 2022 and no appearances in the College Football Playoff.
When he was Texas A&M’s athletic director, Woodward hired Jimbo Fisher away from Florida State for $75 million over 10 years before the 2018 season. Woodward became LSU’s athletic director in 2019 and left Texas A&M with the Fisher bill, which was increased by A&M after Woodward left by a renegotiation following Fisher’s 9-1 season in 2020. Fisher was fired late in the 2023 season and remains out of coaching, but he is still being paid his $75 million buyout by Texas A&M.
“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,” Woodward said. “I am grateful for the ongoing consultations and support of the LSU Board of Supervisors and interim president Matt Lee in this decision.”
LSU picked a fine time to raise season ticket prices – the day before the low ebb of Brian Kelly era. And Governor Jeff Landry wants an audible. Or, maybe, LSU is building a war chest for a new coach? Column: https://t.co/g6j0ax2pSQ
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) October 26, 2025
Woodward’s swift move gets LSU into the new coach chase in a timely fashion. Florida has been busy for weeks trying to lure Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin to Gainesville after he has the Rebels (7-1, 4-1 SEC) at No. 7 in the nation and likely bound for the College Football Playoff. Kiffin, 50, is the hottest college coach in the country, or close to it, because of his dramatic turnaround of Ole Miss, which had been only up and down for decades before him.
“We will immediately begin a national search for a new head football coach,” Woodward said. “And I am confident in our ability to bring to Baton Rouge an outstanding leader, teacher and coach, who fits our culture and community and who embraces the excellence we demand.”
Woodward has hired very successful coaches at LSU such as Kim Mulkey in women’s basketball and Jay Johnson in baseball. Mulkey won three national championships at Baylor and one at LSU in the 2022-23 season. Johnson has won two at LSU – in 2023 and in 2025. But Woodward has not hired a coach in football whose “success level materialized” very well since he was Washington’s athletic director hired Chris Petersen before the 2014 season.
“As a proud alum (of LSU), 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.
“He was trying his hardest to the end, and we were trying.”
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) October 27, 2025
-Current LSU football player, who asked not to be identified, on last meeting with fired coach Brian Kelly. @andrechampagnee https://t.co/jpOAGA6rB4
The new coach will be LSU’s third just since the 2021 season, which was coach Ed Orgeron’s last. Woodward renegotiated Orgeron’s contract after he won the national championship in the 2019 season, and Orgeron’s buyout of payments of $18 million by LSU won’t be completed until December.
“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,” Woodward said.
Kelly remains the winningest active coach in college football at 297-109-2 at five schools.
“We wish coach Kelly and his family the very best in their future endeavors,” Woodward said. “We will continue to negotiate his separation, and will work toward a path that is better for both parties.”
The word early Sunday was that Kelly, who turned 64 on Saturday, would fire embattled offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and perhaps make other moves, and he would survive for the rest of the season and perhaps make it to next season. According to multiple reports, though, a meeting between Kelly and athletic director Scott Woodward grew angry on both sides.
That likely did not cause the sudden firing, though, unless Woodward lied in his above statement when he said he made up his mind because of the loss to A&M.
By firing Kelly now, LSU also somewhat skirts any issue the new, incoming, unnamed school president may have with a $52.3 million Kelly bill.
Associate head coach Frank Wilson will replace Kelly on an interim basis. Wilson has had that title and running backs coach since 2022. He was LSU’s running backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 2010-15 previously before becoming head coach at Texas-San Antonio (2016-19) and McNeese State (2020-21).
A players’ meeting was called for 8 p.m. Sunday. Kelly spoke briefly to the team and said, “Love you. Finish the season.”
LSU (5-3, 2-3 SEC) is open this week before playing at No. 4 Alabama (7-1, 4-0 SEC) on Nov. 8.
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