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Michigan will not only have to hire a new head football coach this offseason, but it will have to find a new offensive coordinator, too. Chip Lindsey is leaving his post.
The play caller spent just one season with the Wolverines and rookie signal caller Bryce Underwood. He will now make a lateral move to Missouri.
Lindsey will be hired by the Tigers according to recent reports. He will coach in the SEC next season.
Sources: Michigan OC Chip Lindsey is leaving become the new offensive coordinator at Missouri. He’s agreed to a three-year deal and will be the Tigers play caller. (His status for coaching in Michigan’s bowl game remains in flux.) pic.twitter.com/HMKECawdVk
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 21, 2025
Chip Lindsey will pay to leave Michigan football.
The coordinator signed a three-year deal with the Wolverines in December of 2024. He earned a base salary of $1.4 million in Year 1.
That number was expected to increase to $1.5 million in 2026, and $1.6 million in 2027. Instead, he’ll leave that money for a new gig in CoMo.
In doing so, he breaks contract. He will pay a buyout.
ML Live reports his buyout information as follows.
If Lindsey terminates the contract and leaves Michigan before the conclusion of the 2025 season, he’ll owe the school a $1 million buyout payment. The buyout amount drops to $750,000 in 2026 and $500,000 in ’27, per the contract. The buyout amount will be waived if he takes a head-coaching job with a Division I college football program or any coaching job in the NFL.
Lindsey is not taking a head coaching job. The move is lateral. He will owe Michigan his buyout according to the terms of his deal.
The Wolverines are set to play in a bowl game against Texas on New Year’s Eve, but the regular season has concluded. The buyout would be at least $750,000 at this moment in time.
There is, of course, a possibility the two sides could come to a reduced payment given the recent drama surrounding the program.
Sherrone Moore was fired in December due to an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. It’s made the current assistant coaches’ futures unclear.
The next hire may or may not retain those coaches. It’s now decision time, and Lindsey chose to leave.
Lindsey is abandoning Bryce Underwood.
The former five-star passer was the top prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. He flipped late from LSU to Michigan and enrolled in January.
Underwood was immediately thrust into a starting role. He failed to live up to lofty expectations given his $12 million price tag, but he did lead the Wolverines to a 9-3 overall record as a freshman.
The quarterback threw nine touchdowns and six interceptions while racking up 2,229 yards. He also scored five touchdowns on the ground to show off his versatility.
Underwood is an incredible talent. He is expected to continue growing and maturing as a sophomore. Lindsey’s exit could slow that development.
Underwood will now be forced to learn a new playbook under the guidance of a new coordinator. Chip Lindsey, meanwhile, will be off to Missouri to coach for the Tigers.