Former LSU football coach and now special assistant to recruiting and defense, Ed Orgeron, will be on the sidelines for the Tigers big game against Alabama, but the 65-year-old from Larose, said he nearly died earlier this year. In an advertisement, Orgeron praised the medical staff at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.
Championship healthcare for our championship coach. https://t.co/6OVRdsQHha
— Our Lady of the Lake Health (@ololhealth) November 5, 2026
“All of the people that helped me live that night, I was about to die; they saved my life. And I’m very, very grateful for that,” Orgeron said.
Orgeron did not provide details about his hospital score. A Yahoo Sports report says Orgeron, who became ill during preseason practice, was hospitalized for sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition in which a body’s response to an infection can damage its organs.
New Orleans journalist Kaare Johnson reported Orgeron spent 18 straight days in the hospital. Coach O says the hospital staff worked together like a championship football team to save his life.
“Drs. Katie and Bud came to my house on a Saturday and on a Sunday. Dr. Conners opened up the hospital on a Sunday so I could change my wrap. I mean, these guys are unbelievable,” Orgeron noted.
LSU football coach Lane Kiffin acknowledged on September 14th it got a little bit scary for Orgeron. After missing the first few games of the season, Orgeron has returned to duties on the coaching staff and has been seen walking with a cane. The former national championship winning coach is happy to be alive.
“You know what? I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to represent the Tigers. I’m excited about our game on Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Central Standard Time; The LSU FIGHTING Tigers vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide,” Orgeron remarked.
