Brian Kelly Seeks Court Ruling After LSU Claims He Was Never Officially Fired, Complicating $54M Buyout

Brian Kelly, the former head football coach at Louisiana State University, filed a lawsuit Monday against the university’s Board of Supervisors after learning LSU now claims it never formally terminated him.

The 48-page petition seeks a declaratory judgment confirming his firing was without cause and that he is entitled to the full liquidated damages specified in his contract. This amounts to roughly $54 million, paid in monthly installments through 2031.

Kelly’s legal team says LSU representatives informed them during a phone call Monday that the university believes grounds exist for a termination with cause, which would void the substantial buyout.

The lawsuit states that LSU had never claimed Kelly was terminated for cause prior to November 10, and had never suggested he engaged in conduct warranting such termination, per ESPN. The filing came just hours after that Monday phone conversation.

Kelly was relieved of his duties October 26, one day after LSU’s 49-25 loss to Texas A&M dropped the Tigers to 5-3. Then-athletic director Scott Woodward issued a statement at the time attributing the decision to performance, saying the program’s success under Kelly had not materialized to the level LSU demands.

The lawsuit alleges that LSU told Kelly’s representatives Monday that Woodward lacked the authority to terminate him or make settlement offers, meaning Kelly was never officially fired.