Super Bowl Champ Whitworth Says Brian Kelly Didn't Accept His Help Before LSU Firing

Four-time NFL Pro Bowler and former LSU All-American offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth said on the Fitz & Whit podcast that he offered to help his alma mater and serve as a mentor for players during the Brian Kelly era.

He suggested that former head coach basically blew him off, something the new staff does not appear to be doing based on a photo shared Thursday:

"I don't know Brian Kelly at all," he said (3:40 mark). "But what I do know is, I reached out multiple times to say, 'Hey man, if there's anything I can do to mentor, to help, to just be there for you—if there's a conversation we could have behind the scenes, I don't need anybody to know about it—I'd love to help you,' and gotten lots of, 'That's great, I'll keep that in mind' type stuff. So it doesn't seem like there's an interest level there."

He also said that he didn't hear any positive stories about Kelly from LSU players.

"I haven't heard a single story," Whitworth noted. "I've only heard stories to the other side of it. You've even seen some current players who just played for him coming out and saying one of the worst experiences they've ever had as a human being, and the leader he was."

Kelly, 64, went 34-14 in his four seasons at LSU, failing to lead the Tigers to a conference championship or College Football Playoff berth. But more importantly, it sounds as though he alienated former and current players alike.