It seems Brian Kelly isn’t done with the Tigers just yet. Two weeks after being fired from the program, the former LSU head coach has returned, this time to negotiate his $54 million buyout. Kelly maintains that he was fired without cause, prompting him and his attorneys to prepare for a potential legal battle if necessary.

Brian Kelly signed a 10-year, $95 million contract in 2021 when he first joined LSU as head coach. The deal included a buyout clause stating that if LSU fired Kelly without cause, the school would owe him 95% of his remaining contract value. According to Kelly, that’s exactly what happened when he was dismissed two weeks ago.

Now, Kelly has enlisted his attorneys to ensure that LSU honors the terms of the agreement. On November 5, his legal team sent a letter to athletic director Verge Ausberry and LSU Board of Supervisors member John Carmouche, demanding written confirmation that the university will “fulfill its contractual obligation” to pay Kelly the “full liquidated damages” by 5 PM on November 10.

The letter also states that Brian Kelly was fired without cause during an in-person meeting with former LSU athletic director Scott Woodward, executive deputy athletic director Julie Cromer, associate athletic director for football administration Austin Thomas, and Verge Ausberry. According to Kelly’s attorney, LSU officials later joined a call with Kelly on October 27 and confirmed that his termination was indeed without cause.

During that conversation, the officials allegedly informed Kelly that he would receive 90% of his buyout. However, since that assurance was only given verbally, Kelly has decided to pursue legal action if LSU fails to provide written confirmation of the payout by November 10.

However, there is more to the Brian Kelly situation.

Inside the Brian Kelly $54 Million Showdown

For Brian Kelly, securing written confirmation of his buyout remains a top priority. The letter sent by his attorneys states that Kelly is open to negotiating revised payment terms, but only if LSU provides written confirmation of the payout by the stated deadline. Otherwise, he plans to take legal action, with the letter warning, “Absent this written confirmation by that date, Coach Kelly will pursue all available legal remedies.”

Complicating the situation further was the firing of former athletic director Scott Woodward, which came just days after Kelly’s dismissal. During their October 26 meeting, Woodward proposed a lump-sum payment of $25 million in place of Kelly’s full buyout. According to the letter, LSU also offered “one or more accelerated payments” and the removal of mitigation or offset language if Kelly were to accept another coaching job. Later that day, executive deputy athletic director Julie Cromer reportedly increased the offer to $30 million over two installments, an offer Kelly ultimately rejected.

Woodward’s handling of the buyout drew backlash from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who held a meeting at the Governor’s Mansion with several LSU board members, university officials, and athletic administrators. He later criticised Woodward publicly, declaring, “I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach,” during a press conference. That statement effectively marked the end of Woodward’s tenure, paving the way for Verge Ausberry to take over as athletic director.

Now, Brian Kelly finds himself relying on a promise made by a former LSU administrator. If the written confirmation fails to arrive by the deadline, the dispute could escalate into a full-blown legal battle between Kelly and the program he led for four years.