Brian Kelly’s Notre Dame departure revisited: What drove him to LSU and where he stands now

Brian Kelly’s departure from Notre Dame in November 2021 sent shockwaves through the college football world, but in a 2022 interview with the Associated Press, Kelly offered a candid look at the reasons behind his move.

Kelly said he felt dissatisfied with how Notre Dame was handling its football program in several key areas. “I felt like I did everything that I could at Notre Dame, and they felt like they did everything they could for me,” Kelly said. “I felt like we had both got to a point where this is what they could do, right? This is what I did. And we couldn’t get past that. Okay? And so here we are.”

Brian Kelly left Notre Dame in 2021 to join the LSU Tigers

He added that he had repeatedly requested that Notre Dame increase its resource investment in the football team and make improvements around the athletic center, but those requests were never fulfilled. 

Since taking over at LSU in 2022, Kelly has compiled a 34–14 overall record and a 19–10 mark in SEC play as of October 25, 2025, following a loss to Texas A&M. In his four seasons, he has led the Tigers to three bowl game appearances, all of which LSU has won. However, Kelly has yet to guide LSU to the College Football Playoff.

Kelly’s tenure at LSU has been marked by steady improvement and postseason success, but the ultimate goal of reaching the national semifinals remains unfulfilled. As of the halfway point in the 2025 SEC season, Kelly’s tenure at LSU has reached a critical point. The Tigers’ 2025 season has unraveled, and a 49–25 home loss to Texas A&M has fueled intense backlash from fans and media. LSU now stands at 5–3 overall and 2–3 in SEC play, effectively ending its playoff hopes before November.​

The Tigers have dropped three of their last four games in 2025, including losses to Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M, prompting “Fire Kelly” chants throughout Tiger Stadium.​

The fan frustration is not only coming from the program’s inconsistency but also from Kelly’s struggles in high-profile matchups. As it stands, he is just 5–11 against ranked opponents at LSU, and his teams have routinely faltered in high-pressure games. Beat writers across LSU are pointing out that previous LSU coaches—Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron—all delivered national titles by their fourth seasons at the program. That standard Kelly has yet to match.​ 

The biggest obstacle to a coaching change appears to be financial. Kelly signed a 10-year contract in 2021 worth $9.4 million annually, running through 2031. His current buyout sits around $52–53 million, one of the largest in college football. Firing him without cause would require LSU to pay roughly 90% of his remaining salary; the cost is high, but for a program as large as LSU, it certainly could be feasible if donors and athletic department staff turn to a different direction. It's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly, and it will be prolonged. 

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