Brian Kelly Reveals Perspective on LSU Firing

Former Tigers coach opens up about his dismissal after 3 seasons in Baton Rouge

Mar. 9, 2026 at 10:34pm

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Former LSU football head coach Brian Kelly has broken his silence on being fired by the university, despite compiling a 34-14 record over his first three seasons. Kelly expressed disappointment that he didn't get to 'finish the job' of building the program, noting his long track record of success prior to arriving at LSU.

Why it matters

Kelly's firing came as a surprise to many given his initial success, and his comments provide an inside look at how he processed the decision. The move also ushers in a new era under Lane Kiffin, who faces high expectations to return LSU to championship contention.

The details

Kelly said he never thought he'd be fired from LSU, where he won 10 games in each of his first two seasons before the team declined to 9-4 in 2024 and 5-3 in 2025 prior to his dismissal. He expressed disappointment at not being able to 'finish the job' of building the program, noting his long track record of success over 33 years as a head coach with over 300 wins.

  • Kelly was hired as LSU's head coach in November 2021.
  • He led the Tigers to a 10-3 record in 2022 and 10-4 in 2023.
  • LSU went 9-4 in 2024 and started 5-3 in 2025 before Kelly was fired.

The players

Brian Kelly

Former head coach of the LSU Tigers football team, who was fired after three seasons despite a 34-14 record.

Lane Kiffin

The new head coach of the LSU Tigers, taking over the program after Kelly's dismissal.

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What they’re saying

“Let's put it in perspective. You know, I've had 33 years in this business, over 300 wins. You know, had two losing seasons in 33 years. So, you know, my entire career has been built upon, you know, having some kind of success.”

— Brian Kelly, Former LSU Head Coach

“When you get fired, you're told that you're not the guy for the job. And so, you know, that's probably the first thing you start thinking about, you know, the things that you've done for three decades … You look carefully about why this happened, and look, the easy answer is, I didn't win enough games.”

— Brian Kelly, Former LSU Head Coach

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.