Ed Orgeron is dealing with health issues that kept him away from LSU's practice field for an extended amount of time.
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The former Tigers head coach, who rejoined the team this offseason as a special assistant to recruiting and defense, first missed a scrimmage in mid-August. He then missed a practice session. He had been working with the defensive tackles and edge rushers during camp.
The absences have continued, which have created questions about Orgeron's ailment. LSU head coach Lane Kiffin met with media members and provided an update, but he did not provide many details on what appears to be a serious issue.
"He's doing better," Kiffin told reporters on Monday. "It was a little bit scary — I'm not going to get into details with that. So he's doing better, he's still not all the way back. He just means a lot to me. We've been through a lot."
Eye-opening comments from @LSUfootball @Lane_Kiffin on Ed Orgeron and his health. #LSU pic.twitter.com/MjDqaTDHJI
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) September 14, 2026
Kiffin continued and told reporters that Orgeron had joked one day that he wouldn't go to the hospital. He said that he would die on the football field. As Kiffin relayed this story to the gathered media members, he did so with gravitas to show the seriousness of the situation.
"Sometimes, that's not always the best thing to follow," Kiffin added.
Orgeron, 65, has been a prominent figure at LSU while holding multiple roles. This includes a six-year tenure between 2016-21.
The veteran coach led the Tigers to an overall record of 51-20 and a Bowl Game record of 4-1. His tenure featured a 10-win season in 2018 and a perfect, undefeated season in 2019. This latter year saw the Tigers winning the National Championship while quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns.
The final two years of his time at LSU saw the Tigers going 5-5 in the COVID-altered campaign and then 6-6 in 2021. The Tigers then fired Orgeron while agreeing to a $17 million buyout.
