LSU's Lane Kiffin defends chase of NFL players to college
LSU football coach Lane Kiffin is defending his pursuit of NFL players granted a fifth college season after court rulings. He says those athletes will play for him or somewhere else, so the Tigers are recruiting them the way most programs will amid the eligibility fight.
Kiffin addressed the backlash Monday after LSU reportedly neared a deal with former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright, who plans to return to campus if he clears NFL waivers. The story is reshaping how Celebrity Breaking News covers the blurred line between pro and college rosters.
Key Takeaways
- Kiffin says court-granted fifth-year players will play for LSU or another school, so the Tigers are recruiting them.
- The Browns waived Wright; he aims to rejoin Kiffin at LSU if he clears waivers.
- A Louisiana judge's temporary order let Wright and others seek a fifth season and enter the portal.
- Ex-Patriots star Damien Harris called the trend "embarrassing" and urged NFL teams to be wary of drafting returnees.
Why is Lane Kiffin defending LSU football's NFL chase?
Speaking at a news conference Monday, Kiffin framed the moves as competitive necessity, not a stunt. "At the end of the day, because of these rulings, they're either going to play for you or they're going to play for someone else around the country," he said, according to ESPN.
"So we've made the decision to recruit them like probably most people are." He also pushed back on criticism of the athletes themselves, saying a judge found they were wronged by the NCAA and should have had a fifth year "all along like all the kids moving forward will have."
Asked generally whether NFL players should return to college, Kiffin said that answer would be no, adding that every case should be weighed differently. He stressed his duty is to LSU, the people who hired him, and the fans.
Who is Dae'Quan Wright and what happens next?
Wright, a former Ole Miss tight end under Kiffin, went undrafted in 2026, briefly joined the Philadelphia Eagles, then the Browns. Cleveland officially waived him Monday, NBC Sports reported, moving him closer to a college return.
His agents have indicated he plans to play for Kiffin in Baton Rouge if he clears waivers. Wright previously starred at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, posting 39 catches for 635 yards and five touchdowns last season before his eligibility was thought to be up.
He is among players seeking a fifth season after the NCAA's newer five-seasons-in-five-years model left him outside that window. Wright was among 16 athletes granted a temporary restraining order in a Louisiana court last week, ESPN reported, allowing them to explore a return and enter the transfer portal.
Why are some NFL voices pushing back?
Former New England Patriots running back Damien Harris blasted the path on CBS Sports College Football, calling it "embarrassing." He argued players who leave the NFL for another college payday raise questions about competitiveness for future drafts.
"These aren't guys that I want to draft because I don't know how competitive they are," Harris said, per Yahoo Sports. On ESPN's "Get Up," Dan Orlovsky warned the "floodgates are going to open," calling Wright's case likely the first of many.
Pro Football Talk noted a claim on waivers could still complicate any campus return under standard NFL contract language. For now, Kiffin offered no timeline for when fifth-year additions might practice, and no apology for chasing proven talent he says coaches nationwide also want.