Former LSU Football Coach Brian Kelly Has A New College Football Job

I said from the first day Brian Kelly was hired by LSU that it was a weird fit. You can see what I've written before, and have even been quoted by national media about my thoughts on the fit. LSU fans were quickly treated to a little bit of that weirdness when Kelly told an arena full of fans about his 'fah-mah-lee' on a live mic.

Before coming to Shreveport, I covered sports in Michigan, while Brian Kelly was coaching at Central Michigan. He had been the long time coach for Grand Valley State, where he won multiple National Championships. Basically, I was pretty aware of who Brian Kelly is, and what he does.

Which was perfect for Notre Dame, and terrible for LSU.

Brian Kelly's Style Didn't Work At LSU

It took a few years for the lack of 'cultural' fit between Kelly and LSU to finally boil over. He won some games, had a Heisman winner, and was able to buy himself some time. But eventually, his clock ran out.

Brian Kelly was let go in October of 2025 after one of the most embarrassing losses in LSU history...I won't say who or the score, but if you know, you know. The school wanted him gone so bad, they were willing to pay three different Head Coaches at the same time to have him not coach the team.

LSU leadership was able to distract everyone from how bad the Kelly experiment was by hiring Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss in one of college football's greatest coups of all time.

CBS Sports Bringing Brian Kelly On Board

But now, EVERYONE is going to get to see exactly how odd Brian Kelly can be...because he's going national. His new job will be with CBS Sports, which includes a daily analyst slot on “Inside College Football”, and covering games for Mountain West football during the season.

That's right, fans from coast to coast will be able to get a daily dose of Brian Kelly...if they want it. If you sample his work, and actually connect with whatever he will be bringing to the table, you can jump on CBS Sports Network every week to see whatever Mountain West game he will be on.

Here's what I expect: Brian Kelly will be to college football coverage what Eric Mangini was to NFL coverage when he was first brought to ESPN. He's going to be slightly obnoxious, he will seem disingenuous, and he will be rigid.

But maybe I will be wrong. Maybe Brian Kelly getting let go by LSU is the thing that will change his attitude, tone, and outlook on life. He might hit the air with CBS and go full Tom Brady on us. He might start breaking down tape like no one we've ever seen before, and have a brand new sense of humor.

Likely? No. But just like the idea that Kelly would leave Notre Dame for LSU...nothing is impossible.