Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
A photo of a Rutgers Scarlet Knights football helmet next to Louisiana State Tigers head coach Brian Kelly during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium.
Could Brian Kelly return to college football in 2027 after he was unceremoniously fired as the head coach at LSU? If a new report is to be believed, it’s more likely than not, and with a program that not many would have guessed.
Kelly, a Massachusetts native, rose to prominence with Cincinnati before spending 12 seasons with Notre Dame and four in Baton Rouge.
Now, it appears, a return to the East Coast with a Big Ten program could be in order for the 64-year-old.
There appears to be mutual interest between Rutgers and Brian Kelly, per @TheAthletic.
Kelly, the former Notre Dame and LSU head coach, is very motivated to return to the sidelines next season.
Kelly is a Northeast native who would be very comfortable trying to revive Rutgers. pic.twitter.com/cBJ6GBOOnH
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) September 19, 2026
Brian Kelly Linked To Rutgers Head Coaching Job
Evan Sidery of The Athletic reports that there is “mutual interest” between Kelly and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights should they part ways with current head coach Greg Schiano.
“Kelly, the former Notre Dame and LSU head coach, is very motivated to return to the sidelines next season. Kelly is a Northeast native who would be very comfortable trying to revive Rutgers,” Sidery posted on X.
Schiano, meanwhile, has had a rough go of things in his return to Piscataway. The New Jersey native coached at Rutgers from 2001-2011, leading them to a stunning 11-2 season in 2006. He then spent two seasons in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before returning to college as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State from 2016 to 2018.
In 2020, Rutgers brought Schiano home.
However, he’s finished over .500 just twice in six seasons back, and the Scarlet Knights are off to an 0-2 start in 2026, including an ugly loss to UMass in the season opener.
Perhaps Schiano can sort things out over the next few months. But if not, it sounds as if Kelly could be next in line to try his hand at guiding Rutgers through the Big Ten.