The Brisbane Lions today confirm that Senior Coach, Chris Fagan has informed the Club he will retire from the role after 10 extraordinary seasons at the helm, closing a defining chapter in the Lions history.

Fagan, appointed ahead of the 2017 season, leaves Brisbane as a three-time AFL Premiership Coach, having guided the Lions to the 2024, 2025 and 2026 flags and been awarded the AFL Coaches Association, Coach of the Year on three occasions (2019, 2024 and 2025).

Across 243 games, he recorded 148 wins, 93 losses and two draws, rebuilding Brisbane from cellar dwellers into one of the competition’s most respected and successful teams.

Earlier this season, Fagan overtook Lions great and his close friend, Leigh Matthews to become the longest-serving coach in Brisbane Lions history.

Brisbane Lions Chair, Andrew Wellington said Fagan’s legacy would extend well beyond premierships, wins and records.

“Chris arrived at our Club with a clear view of what good people, strong relationships and shared belief could achieve.” Wellington said.

“He led with humility, without ego and with an unwavering commitment to helping those around him become better.

“His influence has reached far beyond the Brisbane Lions. Chris has helped strengthen football across Queensland, inspired a new generation of players and supporters, and earned the respect of the wider football public for the way he has carried himself through success and adversity.

“On behalf of everyone connected with the Brisbane Lions, I thank Chris for the enormous contribution he has made to our Club. We also extend our deepest thanks to Ursula, their two daughters Jessica and Ellen and the wider Fagan family for the time, support and sacrifice they have given over the past decade.

“The demands on a senior coach are shared by the whole family, and we are profoundly grateful for everything they have given the Lions.”

Reflecting on his decade as Brisbane Lions, Coach, Chris Fagan said:

“As you’ve come to know I’ve been thinking about this for some time and I’m comfortable that now is the right time for Ursula and I to return to Melbourne to be closer to our family,” Fagan said. 

“Telling the players and football staff today was one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life, together, we have been on a mission to make the Lions the most entertaining and competitive team in the competition, and we have done that. I was grateful to be given the role to coach the Club, and it has been an incredible ride.

“I especially want to thank Ursula and my daughters Jessica and Ellen for their incredible support over the journey, they have backed me through thick and thin.

“This job is all encompassing; I’ve given it my absolute all and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved, but now is the right time to go.

“This Club has never been in greater shape, and the list profile would suggest this. The boys will continue to contend, and I’ll be their number one fan, but a fresh face at the helm will be a key pillar for the players to come back to next season, as they work hard to achieve more success.

“Ursula and I will really miss the City of Brisbane. We feel like from the time we arrived we’ve been embraced and made plenty of friends at the club and in our community. We will miss it a lot, and we really appreciate the support of everyone during our time here.

“I love how the fans have really embraced the team during my coaching tenure. To see the growth of footy across the State, our membership growth, big crowds filling the Gabba, the development of Brighton Homes Arena, which is far cry from our previous preseason situation, and with a new stadium in a few years the future looks bright.

“I’ll miss the club and it will feel strange not to be involved but for the last ten years I’ve thought about nothing other than how we can improve, get better and be successful. To see the Club develop onfield from cellar dwellers to three-time Premiers has been amazing.

“The Lions are the sum of our parts and everyone across the club has played their role.”

Brisbane Lions, General Manager, Football, Danny Daly said he’d miss Fagan’s friendship.

“From the very first time we met, I knew we shared the same values and beliefs not only around coaching but also about life and we were able to over a 10-year period forge a great working relationship and more importantly a great friendship.

“I'm forever grateful he backed me in to be the Football Manager, and I hope I have been able to repay him.

“The journey has been amazing, ten years, eight finals campaigns, four Grand Finals and three Premierships, it’s a record which over time we will come to appreciate a lot more.

“I’m forever grateful that these aside, my family and I were able to be part of his and Ursula’s family life and forge a great and everlasting friendship.

“I will miss working with him and selfishly I am sad he has decided to give it away but deep down I am really happy that Fages gets to leave on his terms, as a winner.”

Brisbane Lions Chief Executive Officer, Sam Graham said Fagan had earned the right to choose the moment to bring his remarkable coaching career to a close.

“Chris has played a massive role in the transformation of this Club both on and off the field. While we would have loved nothing more for him to continue on, he has earned the right to call time when he was ready, and we’re pleased he’s going out on top. We fully understand and respect his decision,” Graham said

“Chris’s achievements speak for themselves, but his greatest legacy is the environment he created, the people he developed and how he has nurtured this playing group. 

“Today is a day to celebrate the contribution of Chris Fagan, Ursula and their family, and we will announce the next steps to appoint our next senior coach in due course.”