When Kalen DeBoer took over for Nick Saban at Alabama, the expectations were sky-high-and understandably so. Following a legend like Saban is never easy, especially in a place like Tuscaloosa, where national championships are the standard, not the exception. And when DeBoer’s debut season ended with a 9-4 record and a blowout loss to Florida State in the 2025 opener, the noise around his job security got loud-fast.
At that point, there was real concern among the Alabama faithful. The Crimson Tide had missed the College Football Playoff, and the early returns under DeBoer weren’t exactly inspiring. But to his credit, DeBoer didn’t flinch.
Fast forward to now, and Alabama has bounced back in a big way. The Tide went 9-3 in the regular season, stacking up a few statement wins along the way, and they’re back in the CFP with a first-round clash against Oklahoma looming on Friday night. It’s a significant turnaround-and a testament to DeBoer’s ability to steady the ship in the wake of one of the toughest coaching transitions college football has seen in recent years.
Still, even with Alabama back in the national spotlight, rumors continue to swirl around DeBoer’s future. Most recently, his name has been floated in connection with the Michigan head coaching job. And while DeBoer shut down the speculation immediately, that hasn’t stopped the chatter.
On ESPN’s College GameDay podcast, Pete Thamel suggested that Michigan might actually be a better cultural fit for DeBoer than Alabama. Thamel pointed out DeBoer’s Midwest roots and low-key demeanor, contrasting that with the high-profile, high-pressure environment of the SEC.
“He’s not one of these SEC super-preacher coaches,” Thamel said, implying that DeBoer’s personality might align more naturally with the vibe in Ann Arbor. The argument goes that while Alabama demands constant excellence under an intense spotlight, Michigan-while still a blue-blood program-might offer a slightly different kind of pressure.
But let’s be clear: the Michigan job is no walk in the park. Just ask Jim Harbaugh.
Before finally delivering a national title in the 2023-24 season, Harbaugh weathered nearly a decade of scrutiny from fans and media alike. The expectations in Ann Arbor are massive, and the pressure to win is very real-especially now that the Wolverines have tasted the mountaintop.
There’s also the matter of DeBoer’s coaching history. He’s never stayed more than two seasons at any of his previous head coaching stops-Fresno State and Washington.
That’s a fair talking point. But Alabama isn’t just another coaching job.
It’s the pinnacle. And everything we’ve seen from DeBoer this season suggests he’s settling in and building something sustainable.
He’s weathered the early turbulence, reestablished the Tide as a playoff-caliber team, and shown he can recruit and develop talent at the highest level. That’s not the profile of a coach looking to jump ship. Not now.
So while the speculation will likely continue-because that’s just how the coaching carousel works-the reality is this: Kalen DeBoer has Alabama rolling again. And as long as the Tide keep winning, don’t expect him to go anywhere.