Kirby Smart Stuns College Football World, Rejects LSU and Packers to Remain at Georgia
June 10, 2025 — Athens, Georgia
In a move that sent shockwaves through both college and professional football circles, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has firmly rejected blockbuster offers from both LSU and the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, choosing instead to honor his long-standing commitment to the University of Georgia.
Multiple high-level sources confirmed that LSU had approached Smart with a historic 10-year, $135 million contract — an offer that would have made him the highest-paid coach in college football history. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers had reportedly dangled a four-year, $72 million NFL head coaching package, accompanied by full roster control — a rare privilege in professional football — and the chance to lead quarterback sensation Jordan Love into the next decade of contention.
But Smart said “no” to both.
In a statement released this morning by the University of Georgia Athletics Department, Smart said simply:
“I started something special in Athens, and I intend to finish it here. Georgia is my home. Our players, our fans, this program — they are my family. I’m not done. Our work is not finished.”
The decision was more than surprising; it was stunning. LSU’s offer, coming on the heels of Brian Kelly’s abrupt resignation last month, had been whispered about in coaching circles for weeks. Insiders claim Smart was the Tigers’ “top and only target” — with LSU boosters prepared to “break every financial precedent” to bring him to Baton Rouge. One insider described the school’s final offer as “an all-in play, the equivalent of a blank check.”
But Smart’s loyalty to Georgia proved unshakable.
Equally tempting was the Packers’ pursuit. NFL executives believed Smart’s defensive brilliance and strong leadership could reshape Green Bay’s future — especially with the team’s once-proud defense struggling in recent seasons. The chance to lead a historic NFL franchise, with the autonomy rarely afforded to college coaches making the jump to the pros, would have lured nearly anyone else.
Yet Smart refused.
“It wasn’t even about money,” said one close friend of Smart’s, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He feels what he’s building at Georgia is bigger than a paycheck or a new challenge. He sees legacy. He sees history. His heart is here.”
Smart’s decision resonates deeply in Athens, where he has built Georgia into a modern dynasty. Since taking over in 2016, he has delivered three national championships (2021, 2022, 2024), five SEC titles, and a staggering 103–15 record. His 2024 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 nationally — the third time in five years his class topped the rankings.
In the wake of this announcement, Georgia fans flooded social media with relief and joy.
“Kirby Smart forever. Athens forever. Dawgs forever,” one fan posted on X, alongside a photo of Smart hoisting the 2024 National Championship trophy.
Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks expressed deep gratitude in an afternoon press conference.
“Kirby’s loyalty to this program speaks volumes about his character. In an era when coaches jump for the next paycheck, Kirby stayed because he believes in these young men, this school, and this state. We’re beyond fortunate to have him.”
While Smart’s contract extension — quietly signed last month — now stretches through 2033 with a built-in $125 million total value, sources close to the program insist this wasn’t the deciding factor. For Smart, it’s about legacy. About finishing what he started. About making Georgia the undisputed standard in college football.
For LSU and Green Bay, the coaching search continues.
For Georgia, the dynasty continues.
And for the rest of the football world — Smart’s shocking decision is a rare reminder that loyalty and legacy still matter.
Let me know if you’d like this reworded as a breaking news alert, a dramatic sports column, or in any other style.
