Was Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry actively trying to kick Brian Kelly in the rear on his way out the door? Perhaps not, but his quip on Thursday certainly came across as a barb at the now-ex LSU head football coach.
On Thursday, Landry continued his press tour by making an appearance on the local ESPN radio station in Baton Rouge. In speaking with After Further Review host Matt Moscona, Landry said he intends to be involved in the drafting process for the contract of LSU’s next head coach.
“I’m going to be looking at that contract and I will be opining on it,” Landry told Moscona.
Landry has been vocal in recent days that the bill for Kelly’s buyout could ultimately be footed by the Louisiana taxpayer. The Tigers’ decision to pay Kelly’s $54 million buyout has struck a nerve, and Landry has made it clear he isn’t pleased with the way the state’s flagship university has handled business.
He said he does not have the power to fire LSU athletic director Scott Woodward, but he does have the autonomy to suggest to the LSU Board of Supervisors that Woodward not be involved in contract negotiations for the next head coach.
“Did they pay the guy at Vanderbilt who’s whipping us $100 million?” Landry asked Moscona, referencing Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea.
Spoiler: They did not.
According to the USA Today coaching database, Vanderbilt’s leading man has a $3.7 million salary for the 2025 season. That ranks 57th among FBS coaches.
Vanderbilt beat LSU 31-24 on Oct. 18 in what was the Commodores’ first win over the Tigers since 1990.
Kelly ranked among the 10 highest-paid coaches in the sport with an annual salary of more than $10.1 million.
“The guy that’s here right now that wrote that contract, cost Texas A&M 70-something million dollars, right now we have a $53 million liability, we are not doing that again,” Landry told reporters at a news conference from the state capitol on Wednesday.
To be fair to Woodward, he initially brought Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M, but his successor, Ross Bjork (who is no longer at A&M), is the man who gave Fisher the extension that made his buyout ($77 million) what it was.
Landry reiterated during his radio appearance on Thursday that he does not want to be involved in the selection of LSU’s next head coach.
WDSU reported on Monday that LSU’s board has signaled Kelly’s buyout will be funded by private donors and self-generated athletics funds, not from state funds.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
