BRIAN KELLY FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST LSU FOR $54 MILLION

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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

According to a new lawsuit from Brian Kelly's attorneys, the former LSU Head Coach argues LSU "has not formally terminated" Kelly as the Tigers' football coach.

Also, according to the petition for declaratory judgment, Louisiana State University is now seeking to fire Kelly "for cause".....potentially avoiding a full buyout of nearly $54 million.

In the filing, LSU informed Kelly's legal attorneys of this position on Monday.

From a copy of the suit obtained by LSUOdyssey, "LSU's representatives had a call with Coach Kelly's representatives, where LSU took the position that Coach Kelly had not been formally terminated and informed Coach Kelly's representatives, for the very first time, that LSU believed grounds for termination for cause existed."

Just hours after that call, the 48-page lawsuit was filed in the 19th Judicial District for the Parish of East Baton Rouge.

According to the lawsuit, Kelly's lawyers seek "a declaratory judgment confirming that LSU's termination of Coach Kelly is without cause and that Coach Kelly is entitled to receive the full liquidated damages...."

If LSU had "cause," then the school would no longer owe the full amount of the buyout.

Fired on October 26th, his dismissal was initially said to be purely about wins and losses, with then-athletic director Scott Woodward saying: "We had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge. Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize."

The suit does not specify who from LSU spoke to Kelly's attorneys on Monday, or what behavior his contract outlines as qualifying for a "for cause" dismissal.

The lawsuit alleges that LSU told Kelly's representatives Monday that Woodward did not have "the authority to terminate Coach Kelly and/or make settlement offers to him" in October, and subsequently, Kelly was actually never officially terminated.

Kelly's lawsuit takes issue with the entire process:

"Coach Kelly's representatives informed LSU that Coach Kelly disagreed with each of LSU's new positions, including the idea that he somehow had not been terminated, that the then-Athletics Director Woodward was not acting with authority (in a meeting attended by several LSU athletics officials, including the current Athletics Director Ausberry), and that there were any grounds for termination with cause (or that LSU could manufacture any such grounds after his termination), thus necessitating this action."

Woodward was fired just four days after Kelly.

His departure as athletic director followed a viral Oct. 29 news conference where Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry publicly criticized Woodward and said Woodward "would not be involved in hiring the next football coach".

"Right now, we've got a $53 million liability. We are not doing that again," Landry told reporters at the time; His comments are referenced in the lawsuit, as well.

Kelly's contract with LSU includes a "for-cause" termination clause that allows for his firing due to "material and substantial [NCAA] rule violations"; being convicted of a felony or "any crime involving gambling, drugs, or alcohol"; or "engaging in serious misconduct which either displays a continual, 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, never asserted that he engaged in any conduct that would warrant such a termination," the lawsuit says. "To the contrary, LSU repeatedly confirmed, both publicly and to Coach Kelly, that the termination was due to the Team's performance, not for cause."

The lawsuit details the process of "for cause" and how LSU would have had to inform Kelly of that within a seven-day period. Kelly would then have seven days to respond. The suit says that never occurred.

It also details that LSU attempted to settle with Kelly multiple times, including an e-mail that details offers from LSU to settle with Kelly for $25 million and then later $30 million. The e-mail, which is part of the filing, says the $30 million offer would have come in two installments and included the elimination of mitigation and offset provisions. Kelly did not agree to either.

LSUOdyssey reached out to LSU for comment and hasn't had a response back just yet.

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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