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Matt Rhule predicts Brian Kelly will land another coaching job this cycle

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby: Grant Grubbs11 hours agogrant_grubbs_
Nebraska HC Matt Rhule
(Dylan Widger | Imagn Images)

On Sunday, LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly. He was the seventh coach at a Power Four program to be fired this season. On his podcast, House Rhules, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule revealed whether he believes Kelly will land another job during this coaching cycle.

“If he wants to, he’ll get a job again this year because this is going to be a record-breaking year in terms of the amount of jobs that are open and how many candidates there are that are accomplished,” Rhule said. “You got a guy in Coach Kelly who played for a national championship. So if it wasn’t right at LSU, then there’ll be somewhere else that’ll be right for him.

“James Franklin got to the semifinals last year. It wasn’t right at Penn State. It’ll be right for him somewhere else. And, Billy Napier has won at a real high level. He won his last game in Florida. So, sometimes—I’ve learned this in my life—sometimes you’re a fit somewhere, sometimes you’re not.”

Kelly was in his fourth season as LSU’s head coach. The school currently owes him a $53 million buyout, the second largest buyout in college football history, only trailing former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher.

LSU hired Kelly in 2021, signing him to a 10-year, $95 million deal that also included incentives. In his four seasons at LSU, he led the program to a combined 34-14 overall record and a 19-10 mark in conference play.

LSU finished with 10 wins in each of Kelly’s first two seasons at LSU. However, in the 2024 campaign, the Tigers posted a 9-4 record. With three losses already this season, it appeared LSU was on pace for another season with fewer than 10 wins under Kelly.

While Brian Kelly ultimately didn’t find the soaring success he was hoping for at LSU, Matt Rhule is confident another team will be happy to have him at their helm. After all, before coaching at LSU, Kelly spent 10 seasons at Notre Dame, where he guided his team to a national championship appearance in 2012.

Rhule knows how important it is to find the right fit. After achieving great heights at Baylor, Rhule had a lackluster three years leading the Carolina Panthers. Now, he’s back in his element at Nebraska. Perhaps Kelly’s next coaching gig will be his most successful yet.