Brian Kelly threatens legal action as LSU’s $54 million buyout drama explodes

Brian Kelly apparently wants every penny of the $54 million LSU owes him — or at least a better settlement offer.

The fired football coach and the university have been at odds over his buyout, with Kelly rejecting lump-sum offers of $25 million and $30 million, and his camp is threatening legal action if he’s not paid in full.

Kelly’s attorneys wrote a letter last Wednesday to LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and LSU Board of Supervisors member John Carmouche in which they asked for written confirmation by 5 p.m. Monday that the school will “fulfill its contractual obligation” after he was dumped in the fourth season of a 10-year, $95 million deal, according to The Advocate.

“Absent this written confirmation by that date, Coach Kelly will pursue all available legal remedies,” the attorneys wrote.

Brian Kelly during his final game as LSU coach on Oct. 25, 2025. AP

Kelly, 64, is owed 90 percent of his remaining annual compensation, The Advocate reports, and his firing without cause is supposed to see him get paid equal monthly installments through the end of his contract in 2031.

Upon his firing, Kelly rejected the two lump-sump offers made by then-athletic director Scott Woodward, who has since also been fired.

Kelly and LSU brass were set to meet Monday, the report said.

He was fired on Oct. 26, a day after LSU’s 49-25 home loss to No. 3 Texas A&M. The loss dropped them to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in SEC play.

LSU went 10-4, 10-3 and 9-4 in Kelly’s first three seasons.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has been heavily involved in LSU’s decision-making process. He and Woodward had previously butted heads, as reported by Yahoo Sports, which led to Woodward’s firing.

“I can tell you right now Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach,” Landry said at an Oct. 29 press conference, a day before Woodward’s firing. “Hell, I’ll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it.”