LSU has fired head football coach Brian Kelly, the school's athletic director Scott Woodward announced on Sunday night. The decision comes less than four years after Kelly was hired away from Notre Dame, with the Tigers falling short of expectations under his leadership.
“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.”
Kelly compiled a 34-14 record with the Tigers but was dismissed a day after a 49-25 home loss to Texas A&M, which saw fans chant “Fire Kelly” and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry criticise the performance on social media. Landry was reportedly involved in Sunday's discussions leading to Kelly's ousting.
Associate head coach Frank Wilson has been appointed interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. Kelly is owed approximately $54m in a contract buyout, according to reports, as he was in the fourth year of a 10-year deal worth around $100m.
The firing marks another high-profile dismissal in college football, following Penn State's James Franklin and Florida's Billy Napier in recent weeks. Kelly, 64, became Notre Dame's winningest coach before moving to LSU, where he oversaw quarterback Jayden Daniels' Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2023 but failed to secure a playoff berth.
