Following Nick Saban’s unexpected retirement, the Alabama Crimson Tide found themselves in uncharted territory, sparking widespread speculation about who would take over the reins of one of college football’s most storied programs. Names like Urban Meyer, NFL coaches, and other top college football figures were thrown into the rumor mill. However, the Tide ultimately settled on Kalen DeBoer, but not without rumors swirling about other candidates.
On Thursday, DeBoer set the record straight during an appearance on *The Triple Option* podcast, addressing the speculation about who else Alabama might have been considering and debunking the idea that he was a fallback option.
Kalen DeBoer Clears Up Alabama Rumors
Fresh off leading the Washington Huskies to the national championship game against Michigan, DeBoer has quickly found success with Alabama, heading into a key Week 5 matchup against Georgia with the team performing at the same high level as they did under Saban. Even recruiting has continued to thrive, indicating that DeBoer has managed to keep the Tide rolling despite the transition.
However, there were lingering rumors that Alabama considered other prominent coaches like Tommy Rees, Mike Norvell, Dabo Swinney, and Steve Sarkisian before settling on DeBoer. But according to DeBoer, the process was much more straightforward than fans may have believed.
New @AlabamaFTBL Head Coach @KalenDeBoer joins the guys ahead of the Tide's matchup against #2 Georgia. He takes us back to the whirlwind week that had him coaching Washington in the National Championship on Monday and stepping off a plane in Tuscaloosa on Friday! pic.twitter.com/4QzNhumCNP
— The Triple Option (@3xOptionShow) September 26, 2024
“We had just finished our season and flew back on Tuesday,” DeBoer explained. “On Wednesday, Coach Saban announced his retirement, and late that night my agent called to tell me that [Alabama AD] Greg Byrne wanted to meet. The next day, we were on a plane. It all happened very fast. There was no gauging of other candidates—just a simple, ‘Would you be interested in meeting?’ We met on Thursday, and by Friday, I was offered and accepted the job.”
DeBoer’s account suggests that he was Alabama’s top choice from the beginning, contradicting rumors that he was only considered after other coaches passed on the job. His swift hiring lines up with early reports that had DeBoer as the frontrunner from the start, putting to rest any notion that Alabama had looked elsewhere first.
Assuming DeBoer’s recollection is accurate—and there’s no reason to doubt it—he was the lead candidate from the start. His rapid ascension into the Alabama job now seems less like a backup plan and more like a carefully considered decision. So far, DeBoer’s tenure has reinforced that he was the right choice to succeed Saban.
