Brian Kelly Leaves LSU With An Impressive But Complex Record

So...the Brian Kelly era in Baton Rouge is officially over. The plug has been pulled. He was fired mid-season in a move that feels both shocking, and completely expected, if you've been paying attention.

A lot of Tiger fans are celebrating, and let's be honest...the guy was just a weird fit from day one. The fake accent...the weird dancing videos...it never felt right. Mix in some horrible stories about him behind the scenes (we're talking just at LSU, not even considering the tragedy he caused at Notre Dame), and falling short of the high hopes for 2025, the whole thing just fell apart.

But here's the question everyone in Louisiana should consider at some point (maybe not right now): was he really that bad?

I get it. He wasn't a "culture fit." He wasn't Coach O. But the guy won football games.

Brian Kelly's Record At LSU

Let's not pretend the guy was a total failure. His final record at LSU was 34 wins and 14 losses. That’s a .708 winning percentage. You know who that's right behind? Ed Orgeron (.718).

It's better than LSU legends like Charles McClendon. Yeah, he wasn't Nick Saban (.750) or Les Miles (.770)...but nobody is. Based on winning percentage, he’s in the upper tier of LSU coaches. Period.

He Hit Milestones Fast

People have short memories. This guy came to Baton Rouge and won the SEC West in his very first season. He followed that up with another 10-win season in 2023. He and Les Miles are the only two coaches in LSU history to have 10-win seasons in their first two years.

And let's not forget...he coached Jayden Daniels...the guy who brought a Heisman Trophy back to Baton Rouge. That 2023 offense was one of the most explosive in the history of the program.

So What's the Real Problem?

He wasn't fired for his record. He was fired for not meeting the real standard. At LSU, the only thing that matters is a National Championship. Saban did it. Miles did it. Coach O did it. Kelly's teams won...but they never looked like they could win it all.

He'll get paid a mountain of cash to not coach. But when we look back...don't let the weird dancing fool you. The guy's record was a lot better than you'll want to remember.