Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp shades Jeff Landry after Scott Woodward comments: 'Kirby Smart appreciation tweet'

After Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s comments about LSU athletics director Scott Woodward, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp threw some shade. He posted a “Kirby Smart appreciation tweet” on X afterward.

Landry received a question about whether Woodward would pick the next LSU head coach after the firing of Brian Kelly and made it abundantly clear he should not. In the process, Landry pointed out the fact that both Kelly and former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher received historic buyouts as a result of contracts given to them by Woodward.

After Landry’s remarks, Kemp expressed his “appreciation” for Smart while reposting video of Landry’s full comments. The Georgia coach is in the midst of his 10th season in Athens.

This is a Coach Kirby Smart appreciation tweet.

Good luck, @LAGovJeffLandry! Go Dawgs! https://t.co/ZWi9O1e8jA

— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) October 29, 2025

“This is a Coach Kirby Smart appreciation tweet,” Kemp wrote on X Wednesday night. “Good luck, @LAGovJeffLandry! Go Dawgs!”

Landry made headlines Wednesday when he said Woodward would not be selecting the next Tigers head coach. Instead, he said the university’s Board of Supervisors would put a committee together to help find Kelly’s replacement.

LSU announced its decision to fire Kelly earlier this week, and the school is on the hook for a $53 million buyout. In a statement, Woodward previously said the two sides were working to negotiate the terms of the separation.

Jeff Landry addressed Woodward’s previous stop at Texas A&M, as well, where he gave Fisher a lucrative contract that included what became the largest buyout in college football history. In fact, Landry went so far as to say he’d led President Donald Trump hire the next coach before Woodward.

“No. I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach,” Landry said. “Hell, I would let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it. … I don’t know. But the Board of Supervisors is going to come up with a committee and they’re going to find us a coach.”

Landry was involved in conversations about Kelly’s future at LSU as conversations took place over the weekend, sources told On3’s Pete Nakos. It’s important to note LSU does not currently have a university president

When asked about whether he’d make sure the next LSU coach’s contract is not “ridiculous,” Landry pointed to Woodward’s recent track record. He cited the more than $70 million buyout that Fisher received at Texas A&M and, after Kelly’s $53 million buyout, said he doesn’t want to see such terms in the future.