How Much Time Does Brian Kelly Have Left In South Bend?
By Andrew Hall
Brian Kelly Begins His Sixth Season This Year
Brian Kelly is treading into unfamiliar water. When Notre Dame kicks off against Texas, Kelly begins his sixth year as the Head Coach in South Bend.
The Irish have not had a longer tenured coach at the helm since Lou Holtz left in 1996. Since Holtz, the Notre Dame Head Coach has only seen terms of 5 years, 3 years and 5 years. Although this does not include the five days that current UCF Head Coach George O’Leary had as Notre Dame’s leader.
More from Opinion
- Notre Dame football: Way too early 2024 NFL mock draft roundup
- Notre Dame football: Diggs transfers, state of the RB room
- Notre Dame football: Buchner out, future of QB position in trouble?
- Notre Dame football: Former top recruits enter transfer portal
- Notre Dame football: Top 3 true freshmen in the spring game
In the history of Notre Dame football, only a few coaches have held the position longer than Brian Kelly. These coaches include Elmer Layden (7 years), Lou Holtz (11 years), Ara Parseghian (11 years), Frank Leahy (11 years) and Knute Rockne (13 years).
As history shows, Brian Kelly may not be in South Bend much longer. Rumors and insecurity have run rampant since he interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kelly told IrishIllustrated:
"“I don’t know how to stop that other than to say there’s no other place, first of all, in college that I would want to coach. No. 2, I get to pick the players that play for me, I get to negotiate the contracts. I’ve got the salary cap, I’ve got all that. In the NFL, you don’t get to do any of that. Look what Chip Kelly’s going through. He tries to control all that and he gets killed for it. I can do all that here at Notre Dame.”"
Based on his comments on Notre Dame’s upcoming home-and-home with Texas A&M in 2024-2025, Kelly will not be on the field in 2024. Reading between the lines, he will be out of South Bend by 2023.
No rumors have surfaced about Brian Kelly leaving from recruits, which may mean that he will be there until 2019. If he coaches until 2019, he will have coached at Notre Dame for 10 years. Kelly coached at Grand Valley State for 13 years.
Kelly could leave on a more positive note. If Notre Dame heads to the College Football Playoff or wins the National Title, Brian Kelly is almost certainly headed to the NFL.
Brian Kelly could coach until 2023 but it more likely that he will leave sooner rather than later. Either he lands in the College Football Playoff and leaves for the NFL or he is forced out for continuing with mediocre seasons.