Kelly Says He'd Listen to Rutgers Job
Former Notre Dame and LSU coach Brian Kelly said he would consider a Rutgers head coaching opportunity if one materialized.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
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Brian Kelly, who lost his LSU head coaching job to Lane Kiffin in 2025, said he would listen if a Rutgers head coaching opportunity came up. Rutgers is considering a coaching change after the season under head coach Greg Schiano following a 28-21 loss to Michigan.
Why it matters
Rutgers has gone 23-27 overall and 10-26 in conference play over the last four seasons, and its athletic department posted a $78 million deficit in 2024-25. Any decision on Schiano carries significant cost, with a buyout between $17.3 million and $18.5 million if he is fired without cause.
Rutgers is 23-27 overall and 10-26 in conference play over the last four seasons, while Kelly holds a 92-39 record at Notre Dame and a 34-14 record at LSU. The Rutgers athletic department's $78 million deficit and the $17.3-18.5 million buyout cost for Schiano remain unresolved factors in any coaching decision.
The players
Brian Kelly
Former Notre Dame and LSU head football coach with a 92-39 record at Notre Dame and 34-14 at LSU, now working at the CBS broadcast desk.
Greg Schiano
Rutgers head football coach whose job security is under review, with a salary of about $6.25 million and a costly buyout if dismissed without cause.
Lane Kiffin
Head football coach who replaced Brian Kelly at LSU in 2025.
The details
Kelly spoke with Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, where he deflected questions about Rutgers by saying it was too early to entertain such thoughts but that he would listen if an opportunity arose. Kelly now works at the CBS broadcast desk after his LSU exit.
Timeline
2025: Kelly loses LSU head coaching job to Lane Kiffin.
2024-25 fiscal year: Rutgers athletic department posts a $78 million deficit.
Saturday: Rutgers falls 28-21 to Michigan.
After the season: Rutgers could make a coaching change.
Season Trajectory
Kelly's 2025 exit from LSU, which led to Lane Kiffin's hiring, sets up a new coaching market in which veteran coaches are available while Rutgers weighs whether to move on from Greg Schiano. A Rutgers change after this season would place Kelly's stated willingness to listen within the broader Big Ten coaching carousel.
A Rutgers coaching change would trigger a buyout of $17.3 million to $18.5 million if Schiano is fired without cause, affecting the university's budget at a time it reports a $78 million athletic deficit. For fans, the decision would determine the direction of the program after a 10-26 conference record over four seasons.
The takeaway
Rutgers' coaching decision will weigh a steep buyout against four seasons of conference struggles, and Kelly's willingness to listen shows that a Rutgers opening would draw experienced candidates. Readers tracking New Jersey college football should watch the post-season review closely.
What happens next
Rutgers could decide on Greg Schiano's future by the end of the season, with any coaching change expected after the season concludes.
Further reading
Explore more New Jersey Football coverage for context on Rutgers and the state's college programs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
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