What Is the Brian Kelly Lawsuit?
The Brian Kelly lawsuit is a Louisiana state court petition for declaratory judgment that Kelly filed against LSU over his football coaching buyout. Kelly, 64 at the time, was fired as LSU head coach on October 26, 2025, one day after a 49-25 home loss to Texas A&M left the team 5-3. His petition asked a court to declare that LSU fired him without cause and owes him the full liquidated damages in his contract.
Liquidated damages are a buyout amount that a contract fixes in advance. Reports put Kelly's at nearly $54 million, payable until 2031 under a 10-year contract worth close to $100 million. LSU later confirmed the without-cause firing in writing.
Other lawsuits also name Kelly, including a medical negligence case brought by former LSU player Greg Brooks Jr. That case is separate and is covered in the related cases below.
Why Was the Brian Kelly Lawsuit Filed?
The Brian Kelly lawsuit was filed because LSU told Kelly's representatives on November 10, 2025 that he had not been formally terminated. According to the petition as reported by ESPN, LSU also said for the first time that it believed grounds for a for-cause firing existed. A for-cause firing could have ended LSU's duty to pay the buyout.
The petition said LSU also took the position that then-athletic director Scott Woodward lacked authority to fire Kelly or make settlement offers. Kelly's side disagreed on every point. It said LSU never claimed cause before November 10 and had repeatedly tied the firing to team performance.
Kelly's attorneys filed the 48-page petition in East Baton Rouge Parish hours after that call. LSU has not been found to have acted improperly, because the case ended before any ruling.
What Harms Does the Brian Kelly Lawsuit Allege?
The Brian Kelly lawsuit alleges three distinct harms, and all of them are financial or contractual. They are a disputed termination, a threatened for-cause firing, and a withheld buyout. No personal injury claim appears in the petition coverage. Each harm is defined below in plain terms, followed by what the sources report about it.
Disputed Termination Status
A disputed termination is a disagreement over whether an employer has legally ended an employment relationship.
The petition alleged that LSU told Kelly's representatives he had not been "formally terminated." Kelly's side pointed to the October 26 meeting where Woodward, with several athletics officials present, fired him. LSU's position, as described in the petition, was that Woodward lacked the authority to do so. The LSU Board of Supervisors later authorized written notice, and the November 26 letter settled the question in Kelly's favor.
Threatened For-Cause Firing
A for-cause firing is a termination based on specific misconduct listed in a contract, which usually ends the employer's duty to pay a buyout.
Kelly's contract lists acts that justify a for-cause firing, including serious misconduct, felony convictions, and NCAA rule violations. ESPN reports the petition said LSU never claimed cause before November 10 and never asserted any such conduct. The petition also said the contract gives seven days of written notice and seven days to respond, and that neither step occurred. Coverage describes no misconduct finding against Kelly.
Withheld Buyout Payments
A withheld buyout is a contractually owed termination payment that an employer delays or refuses to pay.
The petition asked for a declaration that Kelly is entitled to the full liquidated damages. Kelly rejected two LSU settlement offers, described under settlement, and said he would consider offers that made financial sense. Because LSU later confirmed the full amount, the sources describe no payment actually refused.
What Is the Current Status of the Brian Kelly Lawsuit?
The current status of the Brian Kelly lawsuit is that LSU confirmed in writing that it fired Kelly without cause, as of November 2026. The AP reported that the letter cleared the way for Kelly to withdraw his suit. None of the sources reviewed confirm a formal dismissal date or report any court ruling.
Brian Kelly, et al. v. Board of Supervisors of LSU
Kelly's lawyers filed the petition for declaratory judgment on November 10, 2025. The LSU Board of Supervisors discussed the case in a November 21 executive session, and the board's agenda lists the docket number. The AP reports that LSU's November 26 letter, signed by president Wade Rousse, confirmed the without-cause firing and cleared the way for Kelly to withdraw the suit.
| Proceeding Type | State civil petition for declaratory judgment, employment contract dispute |
| Court | 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (Section 26) |
| Docket Number | 770,421 (per the LSU Board of Supervisors' November 21, 2025 meeting agenda) |
| Filed | November 10, 2025 |
| Plaintiffs | Brian Kelly and his company (Brian Kelly LLC, per Skadden) |
| Defendant | Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College |
| Relief Sought | Declaration that LSU fired Kelly without cause and owes full liquidated damages |
| Status | LSU confirmed firing without cause on November 26, 2025; formal dismissal not confirmed in sources reviewed |
Source for the resolution: Skadden's announcement of the full payout and termination without cause, the Associated Press report on LSU's letter, and the LSU board agenda listing the docket number.
How Much Is Brian Kelly Suing LSU For?
Brian Kelly is suing LSU for a declaratory judgment, not a money award, but the dispute concerns liquidated damages of nearly $54 million. Reports describe the buyout as payable in monthly installments until 2031. The letter described under case status confirmed LSU owes it.
The exact payout depends on the contract's offset and mitigation terms, and the sources reviewed do not publish the contract or any settlement terms. Only a qualified attorney reviewing the actual documents can confirm the figures.
LSU's letter says Kelly must make "good-faith, reasonable and sustained efforts" to find another football job, according to the AP. Salary from a new football-related job would offset what LSU owes him.
Sports Illustrated reported that Kelly joined CBS Sports Network to discuss NFL Draft prospects. The sources reviewed do not say how the contract's offset applies to that work.
LSU's earlier settlement offers were a $25 million lump sum and a $30 million payment in two installments. The $30 million offer would have removed the mitigation and offset provisions, according to ESPN.
Brian Kelly Lawsuit Updates and Case Status
These Brian Kelly lawsuit updates trace the dispute from the October 2025 firing to LSU's written confirmation in November 2025. The timeline below lists each dated step. No source reviewed reports a court ruling.
Brian Kelly Lawsuit Timeline
LSU Confirms Brian Kelly Was Fired Without Cause
LSU sent Brian Kelly a letter on November 26, 2025 confirming he was fired without cause and is owed liquidated damages "as required" under his contract, the Associated Press reported. Skadden, Kelly's law firm, states that LSU conceded the without-cause firing that day and agreed to pay the full amount.
LSU Board Authorizes Written Termination Notice for Brian Kelly
The LSU Board of Supervisors met in executive session on November 21, 2025 to discuss Brian Kelly, et al. v. Board of Supervisors, then voted without objection to let new president Wade Rousse send Kelly written notice of termination. LSU's statement cited a bylaw requiring board approval for coaching personnel actions above $250,000.
Kelly's Lawyers Offer to Withdraw the Lawsuit
Brian Kelly's attorneys wrote to LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and board athletics committee chairman John Carmouche on November 19, 2025. The AP reports they offered to withdraw the lawsuit if LSU confirmed in writing that Kelly was fired without cause and still owed the full buyout.
Brian Kelly Files Petition for Declaratory Judgment Against LSU
Brian Kelly filed a 48-page petition against the LSU Board of Supervisors in the 19th Judicial District Court in East Baton Rouge Parish on November 10, 2025, hours after a call in which LSU said it had not formally terminated him. ESPN reports the petition also described LSU settlement offers of $25 million and later $30 million, both rejected.
LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward Leaves the University
Scott Woodward, the LSU athletic director who fired Brian Kelly, left his post on October 30, 2025, four days after the firing. The Associated Press reports he was pushed out under pressure from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and members of the LSU Board of Supervisors.
Governor Landry Criticizes the Brian Kelly Contract
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry told reporters on October 29, 2025 that the state had a $53 million liability from Brian Kelly's contract and would not do that again, ESPN reported. He also said Scott Woodward would not be involved in hiring the next LSU football coach.
LSU Fires Brian Kelly and Offers a $25 Million Buyout
Athletic director Scott Woodward fired Brian Kelly on October 26, 2025, saying the success LSU demands had not materialized. The Advocate reported that documents show LSU offered Kelly a one-time $25 million payment instead of his buyout that same day, an offer Kelly rejected.
LSU Loses 49-25 to Texas A&M
LSU lost 49-25 at home to Texas A&M on October 25, 2025, dropping Brian Kelly's team to 5-3 in his fourth season. Kelly was fired the next day, with a 34-14 record at LSU.
What Did LSU Say in the Brian Kelly Lawsuit?
LSU said in the Brian Kelly lawsuit dispute that board approval governs coaching personnel actions, then confirmed the firing was without cause. It spoke mainly through a statement and a letter, not a court filing. On November 21, 2025, LSU's statement cited Article VII, Section 1(L)(3) of its Board of Supervisors Bylaws, which requires board approval for personnel actions on varsity coaches earning over $250,000. On November 26, 2025, LSU's letter confirmed the firing was without cause.
An LSU spokesperson told ESPN the school had no comment on the filing. The "not formally terminated" position appears only as Kelly's account of a phone call. LSU is a public university, so the defendant is the state's governing board, the LSU Board of Supervisors, according to Sportico's analysis.
How Does the Brian Kelly Lawsuit Compare to the Greg Brooks Jr. Lawsuit?
The Brian Kelly lawsuit compares to the Greg Brooks Jr. lawsuit mainly by the people involved, since Kelly is the plaintiff in one and a named defendant in the other. They are separate cases about different subjects. Neither one resolves the other.
| Case | Role of Brian Kelly | What It Concerns | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelly, et al. v. Board of Supervisors of LSU (No. 770,421, 19th JDC) | Plaintiff | Whether LSU fired Kelly without cause and owes the full buyout | LSU confirmed firing without cause on November 26, 2025 |
| Greg Brooks Jr. v. LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center | Named defendant | Medical negligence claims over the care of a former LSU player's brain tumor | Reported filed in October 2024; a judge let negligence claims proceed in May 2025; no later ruling found |
Kelly denied the Brooks family's claim that he took no part in Brooks's care, calling it factually incorrect at a news conference. Brooks's attorneys disputed that account. No court has ruled on those competing statements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Brian Kelly lawsuit about?
The Brian Kelly lawsuit is a petition Kelly filed against the LSU Board of Supervisors on November 10, 2025, asking a Louisiana court to declare that LSU fired him without cause and owes his full buyout.
Is the Brian Kelly lawsuit a class action?
The Brian Kelly lawsuit is not a class action. Kelly and his company are the plaintiffs, and the LSU Board of Supervisors is the only defendant, so no group of similar claimants can join.
Did LSU settle the Brian Kelly lawsuit?
LSU did not settle the Brian Kelly lawsuit for a reduced sum. It confirmed on November 26, 2025 that it fired Kelly without cause and owes the full liquidated damages, after Kelly rejected $25 million and $30 million offers.
How much is Brian Kelly owed by LSU?
Brian Kelly is owed liquidated damages of nearly $54 million under his contract, according to the AP and ESPN. His duty to seek new football work means salary from such a job would offset what LSU pays.
Why did LSU fire Brian Kelly?
LSU fired Brian Kelly on October 26, 2025 for performance. Athletic director Scott Woodward said the success LSU demands did not materialize, one day after a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M.
Is the Greg Brooks Jr. lawsuit the same as the Brian Kelly lawsuit?
The Greg Brooks Jr. lawsuit is not the same as the Brian Kelly lawsuit. Brooks sued LSU and a hospital over medical care, and Kelly is a named defendant there, not the plaintiff.