Former LSU football head coach, Brian Kelly, has filed a lawsuit against the school’s board of supervisors, seeking a declaratory judgment that LSU fired Kelly without cause and he is owed the full remaining value of his contract[1]. Kelly’s attorneys have asserted LSU has taken the position that Kelly has not been formally terminated and are seeking to fire Kelly for-cause to potentially avoid paying his full buyout, which valued at almost $54 million[2].
Kelly was fired on October 26th without cause, with LSU repeatedly confirming, both publicly and to Kelly, that his termination was due to the team’s overall performance[3]. According to Kelly’s complaint, LSU representatives told Kelly’s attorneys for the first time on November 10th that they believed that grounds for termination for-cause existed and that they intended to fire him for-cause, which would ultimately reduce Kelly’s buyout[4]. This was allegedly the first time that LSU had mentioned this to Kelly and his attorneys. The lawsuit additionally alleges that LSU representatives stated that since former athletic director, Scott Woodward, did not have the authority to terminate Kelly or make settlement offers to him, Kelly was never officially terminated[5]. Woodward resigned under pressure from Louisiana’s governor and LSU’s board of supervisors shortly after Kelly was fired[6].
Kelly’s contract with LSU includes a for-cause termination clause that allows for his firing due to NCAA rule violations, convictions of any crime, or engaging in any other misconduct[7]. Kelly alleges that LSU never claimed he was terminated for-cause or claimed he engaged in any conduct that would warrant such termination under the for-cause termination clause in his contract[8]. Before November 10th, LSU attempted to settle with Kelly twice, one offer for $25 million and another for $30 million, both of which Kelly rejected[9]. In the complaint, Kelly said he would remain open to any additional offers that LSU would like to make.
[1] Ralph D. Russo and Chris Vannini, Brian Kelly files lawsuit against LSU alleging school wants to fire him for cause, New York Times: The Athletic (November 11, 2025).
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Brett Martel, Fired coach Brain Kelly lawsuit alleges LSU is declining to honor the terms of his contract, Associated Press (October 11, 2025).
[5] Russo, supra note 1.
[6] Martel, supra note 4.
[7] Id.
[8] Russo, supra note 1.
[9] Ralph D. Russo and Chris Vannini, Brian Kelly files lawsuit against LSU alleging school wants to fire him for cause, New York Times: The Athletic (November 11, 2025).
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