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Dan Wetzel
In a legal filing against LSU’s Board of Supervisors, Brian Kelly’s attorneys say LSU has taken the position that it has not “formally terminated” Kelly. tigers‘Football coach.
According to the petition for declaratory judgment, the school is now seeking to fire Kelly “for cause” and potentially avoid paying the entire buyout of approximately $54 million. The filing claims LSU informed Kelly’s representatives about the situation on Monday.
According to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by ESPN, “Representatives of LSU held a conversation with representatives of Coach Kelly, where LSU took the stance that Coach Kelly has not been formally dismissed and informed Coach Kelly’s representatives for the first time that LSU believes grounds for dismissal with cause exist.”
Just hours after the call, a 48-page lawsuit was filed in the 19th Judicial District for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (Louisiana).
According to the filing, Kelly’s attorneys are seeking “a declaratory judgment that confirms that Coach Kelly was terminated by LSU without cause and that Coach Kelly is entitled to receive the full compensation provided in (his contract).”
If LSU had “reason”, the school would not have had to pay the full amount of the purchase.
Kelly, 64, was at the beginning relieved of his duties October 26, a day after LSU’s 49–25 loss Texas A&M Dropped the Tigers to 5-3. At the time, his dismissal was said to be performance related, with then-athletic director Scott Woodward saying in a statement, “We had high expectations that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge. Ultimately, he did not achieve the level of success LSU was demanding.”
The lawsuit does not specify who from LSU spoke to Kelly’s representatives on Monday, or what behavior could lead to a dismissal “for cause.”
The lawsuit alleges that LSU told Kelly’s representatives on Monday that Woodward did not have “the authority to fire Coach Kelly and/or offer him a settlement” in October, and thus, Kelly was never officially terminated.
The filing emphasizes three points it says LSU raised over the call:
“Coach Kelly’s representatives informed LSU that Coach Kelly disagrees with each of LSU’s new positions, including (i) the idea that he was not terminated in any way, (ii) that then-athletics director Woodward was not acting with authority (in a meeting that included several LSU athletics officials, including current athletics director Ausberry), and (iii) that there were any grounds for termination including cause (or that LSU would follow his termination after could have created any such basis), thus necessitating this action.”
Woodward went under pressure Four days after Kelly was fired. This was followed by a news conference on 29 October, during which Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry publicly criticized Woodward. and said that Woodward would not be involved in the hiring of the next football coach.
Landry told reporters at the time, “Right now, we’ve got a $53 million liability. We’re not doing that again” — comments that are referenced in the lawsuit.
Kelly’s contract with LSU contains a “for cause” termination clause that allows for his dismissal due to “material and substantial” [NCAA] rule violations”; be convicted of a felony or “any offense involving gambling, drugs or alcohol”; or “engage in serious misconduct that either demonstrates a persistent, serious disrespect for the mission of LSU” or “constitutes moral turpitude.”
“LSU has never claimed that Coach Kelly was terminated for cause and, prior to November 10, 2025, has never claimed that he engaged in any conduct that would warrant such termination,” the lawsuit states. “To the contrary, LSU repeatedly confirmed both publicly and to Coach Kelly that the termination was due to team performance, not for cause.”
The lawsuit describes in detail the “for cause” process and how LSU must notify Kelly within a seven-day period. After this, Kelly will have seven days to respond. The lawsuit says that never happened.
It also reported that LSU attempted to reach a settlement with Kelly several times, including an e-mail detailing LSU’s offer to settle with Kelly for $25 million and then later for $30 million. The e-mail, which is part of the filing, says the $30 million offer will come in two tranches and will include eliminating mitigation and offset provisions. Kelly did not agree to this either,
Kelly came from LSU Notre Dame in 2022 and went 34-14 overall.
When contacted by ESPN, an LSU spokesperson said the school had no comment at this time.
