Drew Brees praises Brian Kelly, sees bright future for him at LSU

As Purdue prepares for Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers for the 2023 Citrus Bowl, the Boliermakers’ interim quarterback coach Drew Brees praised the incredible turnaround Kelly has led LSU to in his first season and head coach.

“Right when it was announced that he was taking the LSU job, I felt like that was going to be a great fit,” Brees said ahead of the Citrus Bowl. “I think he brings a great level of experience, structure and I think certainly to continue the winning ways at LSU, but, also, when you look at just the crop of talent that exists in Louisiana and their ability to recruit, I just felt like that would be something that would attract people even more to LSU.

“Obviously, continue to build on a program that already is very, very successful and is a contender each and every year for a national championship – that that would continue.”

Brees said it all culminated when Kelly’s Tigers upset Alabama at home in November and that him and his sons were rooting for LSU every step of the way. The win defined Kelly’s inaugural season in Baton Rouge, and from Brees’ experience, he believes this the start of something special at LSU.

“Maybe, I have a little more insight, because I was broadcasting games for NBC last year, and we had all the home games for Notre Dame,” Brees said. “Obviously, Brian Kelly was the head coach there, so I had a chance to sit in on a lot of production meetings with him and hear his philosophy, strategy and watch the way that he implemented that with his team there.”

Brees will try to use that knowledge to help his alma mater prevail over the Tigers and take home the 2023 Citrus Bowl crown. Kickoff between the Tigers and Boilermakers is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET Monday afternoon at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game will be aired live on ABC.