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ESPN star Ryan Clark lashed out at Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry on Thursday as the search to replace head coach Brian Kelly at LSU began to heat up.
Clark criticized Landry for his decision to have the Board of Supervisors create a committee to search for a new coach in place of athletic director Scott Woodward. Clark, who played college football at LSU, said it was the “second most ridiculous thing” Landry said this week, pointing to Landry’s support for a statue for the late conservative influencer Charlie Kirk as the first.
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Ryan Clark dismissed the idea of placing a statue of Charlie Kirk on the LSU campus. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The Super Bowl champion went on an emotional rant on “First Take.”
“First of all, it’s the second most ridiculous thing he said this week,” Clark said. “The first was standing on campus and saying he wanted to put up a statue of someone who doesn’t represent the people of Louisiana, doesn’t represent the players and students at LSU, doesn’t represent the executives who work there. That was the first stupid thing he said this week. This is the second stupid thing, among a lot of stupid things he said.
“Scott Woodward, whatever he is, is a guy who got Jay Johnson; last time I checked, the 2025 Louisiana State University Tigers baseball team was at the White House ‘getting the gat’ recently. He was there in 2019; it’s one of the greatest college football teams of all time. He was also there when he said, you know what, we’re going out to get Kim Mulkey. She brings a championship to the school with Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson.”
Clark went on to say that he did not appreciate politicians getting involved in the LSU athletics department.
“To me, this is another situation where politicians stick their nose into things they don’t know about. I honestly think it was so they could get in front of a microphone and say, ‘Look at this connection I have with the president (Donald Trump) and he likes to pick winners and he can appease someone he idolizes.’ You don’t know anything about football,” he said. “There are enough things going on in the state of Louisiana that need to be fixed for their constituents. I don’t need you tweeting on Saturday night about what’s happening at Tiger Stadium. There are too many problems happening right there under your nose that have nothing to do with sports.
Ryan Clark before a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 4, 2024, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jay Biggerstaff/Image Images)
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“Scott Woodward is a good man. Scott Woodward is a man who cares about LSU. In the best of times, back then, he understood what it was to be part of a winner and he has brought more winners to the school. He didn’t fail because Brian Kelly wasn’t capable. He failed because Brian Kelly was no longer willing. Brian Kelly was no longer available. Brian Kelly didn’t care if the people of Louisiana cared about him and he didn’t care if the players knew that. “He didn’t care about him. That’s where it went wrong. Not by choosing a man who was the winningest coach of all time in Notre Dame history. “To me, it’s clearly emotional, and it bothers me, but Scott Woodward deserves to pick the next head coach and the governor should stay out of it.”
Pak Gazette Digital has reached out to Landry for comment on Clark’s comments.
Landry was on “The Pat McAfee Show” to talk about the head coaching search at LSU. McAfee focused on Landry’s points about LSU’s next head coach and his future contract. Kelly reportedly had a $54 million purchase option.
“The next coach we hire will have a clearly different contract,” Landry said. “If that agent can’t see what’s coming… Look, these big name coaches are big because they win. What are they afraid of? If you’re the best, you shouldn’t have to worry.
“You say, ‘Guess what? I’m putting my reputation on the line. And when I win, this is the amount of money I want.’ There’s no guarantee.”
Landry also lent his support for a statue of Kirk to be erected on campus in honor of the conservative figure.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry records a social media video in front of the White House, March 24, 2025, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
“We are going to challenge the LSU Board of Supervisors to find a place to place a statue of Charlie Kirk to defend free speech on college campuses,” Landry said in a video posted to his social media.
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Landry was also at a Turning Point USA event at LSU. He said more than 1,500 people attended the event, which also featured best-selling conservative author and podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey.
Kirk was killed during an event on the Utah Valley University campus in September. His death sparked reactions throughout the sports world.
