Lane Kiffin Leans Into the Drama With Instagram Post as Ole Miss Fallout Continues
Lane Kiffin has never been one to shy away from the spotlight-or the stir that comes with it. And as the backlash from his sudden departure from Ole Miss to take the LSU job continues to swirl, Kiffin is responding in the most Lane Kiffin way possible: with a cryptic, meme-worthy Instagram post.
On Saturday, Kiffin dropped a clip from Kim Kardashian’s appearance on the Jay Shetty Podcast, where she talks about the importance of moving on from people who no longer align with your path. Over the video, Kiffin added a five-word caption that says it all: “It’s Okay to let go.”
Subtle? Not exactly.
Timely? Absolutely.
The message comes as Ole Miss fans are still fuming over Kiffin’s exit-especially the timing of it. The Rebels are preparing for their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, and Kiffin had hoped to coach them through the postseason, despite already signing a 13-year, $91 million deal with LSU.
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter quickly shut that down. No split allegiances.
No half-measures. Kiffin was out.
And that decision didn’t just come from the top. Reports say players wanted Kiffin to stay on for the playoff run, too. But Carter held firm, drawing a hard line that ended Kiffin’s time in Oxford immediately.
Kiffin, for his part, hasn’t hidden his disappointment. In his exit statement, he made it clear he wanted to finish what he started-guide the team through the postseason and ensure a smooth transition.
But as he put it later, *“That’s the SEC.” *
He didn’t mince words when asked about the reaction from Ole Miss fans: “I’ve been around it long enough to know that, and it’s just the passion of the SEC,” Kiffin said. And then came the zinger: “They’re not blocking roads and yelling if the coach was losing games.”
That’s classic Kiffin-part coach, part provocateur, always aware of the headlines.
Now firmly planted in Baton Rouge, Kiffin’s wasting no time getting to work. His first major move?
Hiring Eric Wolford to coach the Tigers’ offensive line. Wolford just wrapped up a rocky season at Kentucky, where he’d returned after a two-year stint with Nick Saban at Alabama.
He’s no stranger to the SEC trenches, having coached offensive lines at South Carolina, Kentucky, and Alabama since 2017. He even had a brief NFL stop with the 49ers from 2015-16.
Wolford’s hiring is a clear signal that Kiffin is prioritizing the trenches early. LSU’s offensive line struggled in 2025, largely due to injuries that thinned out the depth chart.
But there’s young talent to build around. Freshmen Solomon Thomas and Carius Curne showed flashes this season, and redshirt junior Braelin Moore is set to return.
Add in incoming four-star recruit Brysten Martinez, and there’s a foundation to work with-if Wolford can get them clicking.
Meanwhile, back in Oxford, the Rebels are moving forward with Pete Golding as their new head coach. Golding, who’s been Kiffin’s defensive coordinator since 2023, now takes the reins in the middle of a historic season. At 41, this is his first head coaching job, and Ole Miss has already confirmed he’s not just a placeholder-he’s the guy moving forward.
It’s a dramatic turn for a program on the brink of a potential breakthrough. And while Kiffin’s departure stings, the Rebels aren’t folding. They’re heading into the College Football Playoff with a new leader, a talented roster, and a fanbase that’s fired up-if also still a little furious.
As for Kiffin, he’s already embracing the chaos, Instagram posts and all. And if his latest message is any indication, he’s not looking back.