By Adeniyi Precious 
As the College Football Playoff National Championship game approaches, it’s set to be a showdown between Ohio State and Notre Dame. But while the Irish are having a great run, fans haven’t forgotten about Brian Kelly’s exit. Many have been quick to criticize the former coach for leaving Notre Dame, especially with Marcus Freeman now leading them to the title game.
Despite the backlash, Kelly’s not holding a grudge—he’s actually cheering for Notre Dame. In a recent chat with CBS Sports and 24/7 Sports, Kelly shared his excitement: “A lot of the guys there that are on both sides of the ball, I recruited. Obviously, I want to see those guys win it all, and I think they’re in a great position. Totally excited for those guys.”
Kelly also explained why he left Notre Dame, clearing the air about his departure: “I wasn’t leaving Notre Dame because I couldn’t win a championship. You can win championships at Notre Dame, but I chose another path because I wanted a different challenge.”
It’s definitely interesting that Kelly is so supportive, especially with all the drama around his exit. It’s hard to imagine him truly wanting his successor to take Notre Dame to heights he never reached, but who knows—maybe he’s just that kind of guy. Still, if Notre Dame does win it all, Kelly will likely face even more criticism, but it might just fuel his motivation at LSU.