A familiar reunion is set to spark fresh energy in Baton Rouge. After landing an elite QB like Sam Leavitt and bringing in an OC like Charlie Weis Jr., LSU’s new head coach, Lane Kiffin, doesn’t leave any chance to boost its 2026 offense. As a result, he has hired a new staff member with NFL experience.

Former Ravens QB coach Tee Martin has joined the Tigers as an offensive analyst, linking back up with Lane Kiffin.

Lane Kiffin and Tee Martin have a relationship spanning over a decade, primarily rooted in their time together at USC. Kiffin first hired Martin as the WRs coach at USC in 2012. Then Martin remained on the Trojans’ staff even after Kiffin’s mid-season firing in 2013, eventually rising to OC. However, their connection didn’t end there.

When Kiffin took the head coaching job at Ole Miss in 2020, he offered Martin the OC position, but the ex-NFL coach chose to remain at his alma mater, Tennessee, at that time. Besides that, their relationship was close enough in 2017, when Kiffin was the head coach at Florida Atlantic, and he famously offered a scholarship to Martin’s then-13-year-old son, Kaden Martin.

Now, with this kind of past ties, Martin makes the move after a solid stint with the Ravens, where he spent five seasons, including the last three as QB coach. Before that, he coached wide receivers, too. However, prior to his NFL chapter, Martin spent over a decade in the collegiate ranks, including a notable stretch at Tennessee, where he served as passing-game coordinator, assistant head coach, and WRs coach.

In 2019, he returned to his alma mater to join the coaching staff under head coach Jeremy Pruitt, and he spent two seasons with the Vols. Then in 2021 he joined the Ravens. In his first season, he helped Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews become only the second duo in Ravens history to both surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Following that, in 2023, he was promoted to work directly with Lamar Jackson.

Despite that, Martin’s exit was part of a standard “coaching carousel” after the Ravens moved on from longtime head coach John Harbaugh. Now reunited with Kiffin, Martin’s arrival signals LSU’s intent to sharpen its attack heading into the 2026 season.

Lane Kiffin has brought in real talent

When Lane Kiffin brings in a new voice, it’s rarely just another hire, and in Tee Martin, he’s adding a name rooted in championship pedigree and QB lineage. The ex-NFL coach first made headlines at Tennessee, delivering a national title in the very first season of the BCS era in 1998. He led the Vols to a perfect 13–0 season, culminating in a 23–16 victory over FSU. As a two-year starter at QB, he achieved an .880 winning percentage there.

But his journey only got more intriguing being part of the infamous “Brady 6,” the group of QBs selected before Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft. Then his playing career spanned 7 pro seasons, with stops across the NFL, the CFL, and NFL Europe.

However, his real impact began once the helmet came off. He stopped at college programs like USC, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Kentucky before stepping into the NFL with the Ravens. Though his influence was especially felt with Jackson, who captured his second MVP during Martin’s tenure as QB coach. But Baltimore parted ways with him.

“This could really shake Lamar’s rhythm next season,” wrote one account, highlighting just how valuable his presence had been.

For now, Martin will show his fireworks for Lane Kiffin’s LSU.