Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
Brian Kelly was one of college football’s most polarizing coaches, and his firing from LSU on Sunday night made that clearer than ever. Here’s how former players reacted.
Jacob Hester
Outside of my family, there’s nothing I love more than LSU. Every opportunity I’ve had in life is b/c of LSU. The next coach needs to share that same passion. Our DNA was always mean, nasty, and tough. When you played the Tigers, you felt it — it was non-negotiable. #ForeverLSU
— Jacob Hester (@JacobHester18) October 27, 2025
Malik Nabers
Malik Nabers IG story 👀 pic.twitter.com/vcEw47L33C
— Baton Rouge Boot Krewe Media (@BatonRougeBKM) October 27, 2025
Bradyn Swinson
— 𓁺 Iso (@OfficialSwintt) October 27, 2025
Patrick Queen
— 🦈 (@Patrickqueen_) October 26, 2025
Trey Holly
Former #LSU RB Trey Holly’s latest IG story pic.twitter.com/V2tfWpFQe0
— ᴄʜᴀsᴇ (@BolieveInNix) October 27, 2025
Breiden Fehoko
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) October 27, 2025
Brandon LaFell
#IYKYK #ForeverLSU pic.twitter.com/Quffj0Dbkf
— Jody Breeze (@Blafell1) October 27, 2025
Xavier Atkins
Man today is a GREAT DAY
— Xavier “DEEBO” Atkins (@XavierAtkins8) October 27, 2025
Reid Ferguson
— Reid Ferguson (@SnapFlow69) October 27, 2025
Davon Godchaux
Former #LSU standout Davon Godchaux on the firing of Brian Kelly:
“LSU is going to recruit itself, but then you gotta win.”
Godchaux added, “It’s very tough for somebody to get fired, but unfortunately Louisiana is one of those states where it’s a high standard.” pic.twitter.com/7ESHRiZSAn
— NOF (@nofnetwork) October 27, 2025
Leonard Fournette
GODD DAAMM
— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) October 26, 2025
Bernard Causey
Maybe I wasn’t the problem😖
— Bernard causey (@beeby1k) October 27, 2025
Lewis Neal
It’s Forever LSU, but something has to give.. on to the next.. #ForeverLSU
— Lewis Neal (@IamLewisNeal) October 26, 2025
Reactions from current players:
Whit Weeks
Whit Weeks IG Story pic.twitter.com/INJuQOChwe
— Baton Rouge Boot Krewe Media (@BatonRougeBKM) October 27, 2025
Ahmad Breaux
yeah.. pic.twitter.com/jLVvyxROfx
— AHMAD BREAUX 🩸 (@breaux_ahmad) October 27, 2025
Zavion Thomas
playing w ts like this ain’t ah 🥷 life
— Zavion Thomas (@ftfzayy_) October 27, 2025
Tamarcus Cooley
Stay strong 💯 pic.twitter.com/56uPZPgXSC
— Tamarcus Cooley (@tcoo1ey) October 27, 2025
Barion Brown
drained
— B7🦈 (@BarionBrown) October 27, 2025
Other stories and reactions about Kelly:
Thinking about how Brian Kelly accepted the LSU job while at a recruit’s house and just housed several plates of barbecue off the kid’s parents before leaving pic.twitter.com/XF4tOHKOgS
— WBR (@W_B_Rick) October 27, 2025
One of Brian Kelly’s first moves as LSU coach was firing Tommy Moffitt – a legendary strength coach who was part of all 3 LSU titles this century
Tommy Moffitt is now the strength coach at Texas A&M.
This is the second year in a row A&M has absolutely BULLIED LSU. Just sayin pic.twitter.com/s5KL6ubEp9
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) October 26, 2025
Kirby Smart on LSU firing Brian Kelly:
“There’s so much built around the Playoffs, everything’s boom or bust.”
“I coached at LSU, guy once told me, ‘That office you are in. That’s not your office. You are borrowing it.’
“I knew right then, if you didn’t win, you wouldn’t be… pic.twitter.com/ny6zzepa28
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) October 27, 2025
“Don’t ever do that again.”
Veteran broadcaster & former @LSUfootball DL Greg Bowser on Garrett Nussmeier brushing off Brian Kelly & managing players in NIL era.
“If you can’t make them play together, you’ve just got an overpaid roster.” #LSU
Watch – https://t.co/fRrnwyUbTM pic.twitter.com/ygIZNNtiSc
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) October 28, 2025
I’m by no means a fan of BK. A childhood buddy played for him at GVSU back in the day. They’ve lost a few guys from that team and BK has come to each of their funerals and donated money to the deceased family. There’s something to be said about that.
— Red (@Hamperhead64) October 28, 2025
Here you go. As someone who helped hire Kelly at Cincinnati, and worked with him for 3 years, I will tell you everyone in our program enjoyed working with Brian, mainly because of these principles below. BK is intense, smart, and a high achiever. Some people can’t handle that.… pic.twitter.com/oS7CKXzbzZ
— NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS NETWORK (@TheNCSportsNet) October 28, 2025
IMPORTANT: FROM Kyren Lacy’s Mother Kandace, clarifying the truth about Brian Kelly’s support after Kyren’s passing, refuting Kenny Lacy’s comments earlier. pic.twitter.com/I2mTjavREI
— Lonn Phillips Sullivan (@LonnPhillips) October 28, 2025
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