A controller for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a power split mechanism, and a selectable one-way clutch. The hybrid vehicle is configured to increase and transmit a rotation speed of the engine to an output shaft to drive the output shaft in an overdrive state when the selectable one-way clutch is in the engaged state. The controller includes an electronic control unit configured to control the first electric motor such that an engine brake equivalent torque with a magnitude sufficient to maintain the locked state of the selectable one-way clutch is output in a direction opposite to a direction of a negative torque which is generated in the engine when the hybrid vehicle travels in a state in which supply of fuel to the engine is stopped in the overdrive state.