College Football World Reacts to Ed Orgeron Returning to LSU

The college football world took to social media following LSU's hiring of Ed Orgeron as an assistant coach.

Nov 27, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron looks on during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Few college football coaches are capable of embodying their program's culture the way Ed Orgeron embodied LSU's culture.

The Larose, Louisiana native played defensive lineman for the Tigers in 1979 before transferring to Northwestern State for the final three seasons of his college football career. Two years after a run as USC's interim head coach in 2013, Les Miles hired Orgeron to LSU's staff in 2015 as a defensive line coach.

When the Tigers decided Miles had run his course after an early-season loss at Auburn in 2016, they tabbed Orgeron as the interim head coach. LSU posted a 6-2 record with Orgeron at the helm the rest of the way, a mark good enough to earn him his first head coaching job since the one he held at Ole Miss a decade earlier.

Orgeron posted a 51-20 overall record as LSU's head coach in almost six seasons on the job. His run with the Tigers was highlighted by their 15-0 mark in 2019, a team that featured future NFL stars on offense in Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

Even as LSU fell apart under his leadership in the two years after 2019, Orgeron's love for the Tigers never wavered. LSU's parting with Orgeron in 2021 was a mutual understanding between parties that change was needed, as opposed to a tension that boiled over like Brian Kelly's termination.

When LSU hired Lane Kiffin as its next head coach at the end of November, there was speculation that he would bring his former assistant back to LSU. Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Kiffin hired Orgeron as a special assistant to defense and recruiting for the Tigers on Wednesday.

Following Thamel's report, the college football world reacted to Kiffin's decision to bring Orgeron onto his 2026 staff at LSU.

Reactions to Orgeron's return to LSU

THIS IS THE BEST https://t.co/fo85oJZUJa

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) May 21, 2026

Ed Orgeron is returning to LSU and will serve as the special assistant to recruiting and defense for the Tigers pic.twitter.com/dfmnEeWpsW

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) May 21, 2026

Its coming heauxm https://t.co/eZ8p58JjTo pic.twitter.com/CLCS6KZpbi

— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) May 21, 2026

THIS. LEAGUE. https://t.co/k7MOe7LkaU

— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) May 21, 2026

this was easily Lane Kiffin’s best move since getting to LSU, hire a lifelong friend and confidante in the industry who already won a nation title at the school https://t.co/A7ChdFGiiB

— Savanah Tujague (@savanah2j) May 21, 2026

PAPAS COMIN HOME https://t.co/itt5KshCjJ

— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) May 21, 2026

Nothing like college football https://t.co/jh2NIk5pSt

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) May 21, 2026

This athletic department is absolutely unhinged. https://t.co/aH7jLbP8vL

— Ryan Brown (@RyanBrownLive) May 21, 2026

Wow!! Coach O is back!! https://t.co/Nn0wId31EI

— Jake Marsh (@JakeMarsh18) May 21, 2026

2029 interim head coach Ed Orgeron leading LSU on a deep run in the 24-team playoff is gonna be absolute cinema 😍😍 https://t.co/zsRGxTr9yv

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) May 21, 2026

Ed Orgeron one of the all-time great recruiters https://t.co/uzEzIftdMK

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) May 21, 2026