Brian Kelly is opening up about a humbling experience that came after his unexpected firing from LSU—and it involves a U-Haul truck.

Just over six months ago, Kelly was dismissed midway through his fourth season as LSU's head coach, marking the first time in his career he'd been fired. But the real surprise came in the days that followed, when he found himself doing something he never imagined: packing and driving a moving truck himself.

"I never thought I'd be able to pack a U-Haul and drive it," Kelly told USA TODAY Sports. "Listen, I'm feeling good about myself. There's no pictures anywhere, but in fact I did."

The 34-14 record Kelly posted at LSU across parts of four seasons might look respectable on paper, but the Tigers never reached the College Football Playoff under his leadership. The writing was on the wall after a brutal 49-25 loss to Texas A&M on the road last October, which marked his third defeat in four games.

Now, the former Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Central Michigan, and Grand Valley State head coach is ready for a comeback. But he's taking a different approach this time around, using his time away from the sidelines to reflect and reconnect.

"I want to be back coaching—that's what I love to do," Kelly said. "But this has been really good from that perspective too. Nobody wants to hear that. There's no way athletic directors say, 'Oh, Coach Kelly, he's really good at driving U-Hauls, let's hire him.' But all of these things go to having a chance to be much more reflective, to reconnect. I love being with my family. That makes you better as a person and gives you better vision and clarity as you get this opportunity."

With a $54 million buyout from LSU still coming his way, Kelly has the luxury of being selective about his next move. While he acknowledges college football is in a "rebuilding phase," he's focused on finding a program where player relationships still matter most.

"What's clear to me is I miss the relationships," Kelly said. "I miss being with the players. That's what drives me."

Whether his next stop comes this season or next, one thing's for sure: Brian Kelly has added "U-Haul driver" to his résumé—and he's not ashamed of it.