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LSU football coach Brian Kelly found himself in hot water this week following an interview by a former player and his father. Greg Brooks Jr. spoke with Good Morning America about his battle with brain cancer, and what’s followed.
Brooks and his dad claimed that the Tigers‘ coaching staff hasn’t reached out after seeing the defensive back leave the team. Kelly adamantly denied those accusations in a press conference on Wednesday.
Brian Kelly with a powerful message surrounding Greg Brooks and the GMA interview from this week.
“It is factually incorrect to state I was not there by Greg’s side during this ordeal. We love Greg… That comment struck a nerve with me.”
Huge message.
🎥: @LSUfootball pic.twitter.com/1IARugvhZ3
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) February 5, 2025
Kelly provided his side of the story when addressing the media, saying that Brooks’ allegations were “factually incorrect.” He says that he, and others, were in contact daily as the football player underwent surgery and made his recovery.
Greg Brooks began experiencing nausea, dizziness, and headaches at practice prior to the 2023 season. He’d recently been named a team captain before learning of a brain tumor causing those symptoms.
The situation is currently in litigation as reports say LSU trainers diagnosed the symptoms as vertigo and cleared him to return to the playing field.
Brooks Jr. states in the lawsuit that he “passed out” during practice, and “then began to vomit minutes later in front of his coaches and athletic trainers.” The lawsuit claims that Brooks Jr. was told by an LSU athletic trainer that he had vertigo and was “cleared to return to practice.”
According to the filing, despite continuing to report those symptoms on a “daily basis,” it was not until 39 days after Brooks Jr. said his symptoms began that “the team made an appointment with a neurologist who discovered the brain tumor.”
Brooks has since been deemed cancer free, but he’s had to relearn how to eat, write, and speak. During that recovery process, Brooks Sr. says LSU hasn’t been in contact – singling out Brian Kelly.
“Specifically, Brian Kelly. My son almost lost his life. Coach, where were you? Forget about football. Pick up the phone and say you love the kid, man.”
-Greg Brooks Sr.
Kelly denies that he and the Tigers abandoned Greg Brooks. He insists that he’s supported his former player throughout. The family clearly disagrees.