Brian Kelly jokes about his budding relationship with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase

Brian Kelly welcomed back a huge contingent of former LSU stars to campus last weekend, honoring the past as he attempts to build a brighter future. The stars came out, as Kelly was able to connect with the former Tigers duo taking the NFL by storm, Cincinnati Bengals stars Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.

While Kelly wasn’t their coach, he recognizes how important it is to have a relationship with the greats of LSU’s past. However, that didn’t stop the Tigers coach from being green with envy over a steak Burrow has named after him.

“I’m a little salty about the whole thing. Joe Burrow, when I was in Cincinnati, I had a petite filet named after me at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse. He’s got like this massive steak, with crab étouffée on it,” joked Kelly. “Like, really? I mean, oh that’s right, he won a national championship here, didn’t he? We were kind of kidding back and fourth. There’s a steakhouse, Jeff Ruby’s in Cincinnati, and I was envious of the steak that’s named after him.

“We had a great time, and got a chance to talk a little bit about his time here. How much it meant to him. Being a guy from the midwest, and certainly having spent time in the midwest, that transition for me and him. There’s some similar paths. We’re kind of sharing the same experience — how much we both have enjoyed it. So, it was really good to have that conversation with him.”

When Burrow brings a Lombardi Trophy to Cincinnati, Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse may re-name the restaurant after the former LSU star. Continuing, Kelly spoke highly of Burrow’s partner in wreaking havoc on the NFL, Ja’Marr Chase.

“Then Ja’Marr is just such a nice young man,” added Kelly. “You can see how he was embraced here. Both of them. So, it was nice to connect this week. I did a couple of elk club events, and to see our alums back in town, hundreds of alums. It’s nice to see that bridge that has our alumni coming back to town, being part of LSU and LSU football.”

Brian Kelly recognizes how important Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are to his program, and he’s making it a priority to cultivate a relationship with the duo. There’s plenty of work to be done to rebuild LSU, and Kelly isn’t leaving any stone unturned in his quest.