It Sure Sounds Like Joe Brady Backstabbed Ed Orgeron in Departure From LSU

Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady
Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

LSU's football program endured a mass exodus on the coaching front after the Tigers defeated Clemson to capture the national championship this past season. Among the laundry list of departures was passing game coordinator Joe Brady, who left Baton Rouge for the chance to become the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers.

Most Tigers fans would think that Brady informed Ed Orgeron of his decision to bolt for the NFL, but, as it turns out, that wasn't the case. The 58-year-old head coach recently disclosed that he was caught off-guard by Brady's departure.

After enjoying outstanding success in his first year as the Tigers' passing game coordinator, Brady approved of a new contract through a memorandum of agreement. Just days later, however, news broke that he inked a deal with the Panthers.

Orgeron expected Brady to fulfill his end of the bargain. Instead, he learned of his trusted assistant's departure from somebody else on LSU's 90-minute bus ride from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the location of the College Football Playoff Final, back to Baton Rouge.

This news certainly won't sit well with Tigers Nation, as Orgeron really went out of his way to bring Brady to Death Valley. Prior to the success he enjoyed at LSU, the 30-year-old was an afterthought on the New Orleans Saints' coaching staff.

Brady is obviously free to choose what he feels is best for his coaching career, but this report suggests that he could've handled his exit much more ceremoniously.