Ty Simpson’s journey to this moment - Alabama’s starting quarterback, a 3,500-yard passer, and a rising NFL draft prospect - didn’t follow a straight path. It’s been a story of patience, belief, and a little bit of faith. And it all started with a conversation inside the walls of the Crimson Tide’s football facility two years ago.
Back then, Simpson was a backup, watching from the sideline as Alabama prepared for a College Football Playoff semifinal against Michigan at the Rose Bowl. He was weighing his options, seriously considering a move to the transfer portal. That’s when Nick Saban stepped in - not with a sales pitch, but with a challenge.
“He said, ‘I get it if you want to leave, but I know you, and I know what you wanted in recruiting,’” Simpson recently shared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast. “‘If you want to create value for yourself and you want to be a first-round draft pick, this could be a great story for you. You could leave a legacy here.’”
It was classic Saban - direct, strategic, and rooted in long-term thinking. Simpson took it to heart.
He stayed. And then, just days after Alabama’s loss to Michigan, Saban retired.
“I’m sitting there, and I’m like, he just lied to me,” Simpson said with a laugh. “But also as a coach’s son, I understand.
I understand what was going on. I understand how he thought about it.
We had a good conversation about it, and to this day, we laugh about it.”
That decision to stay - even after the coach who convinced him to stick around walked away - has turned into one of the defining moments of Simpson’s career. Fast forward to now, and he’s not just Alabama’s QB1. He’s a fourth-year junior with 3,500 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, leading a Crimson Tide team into a high-stakes College Football Playoff matchup against unbeaten, top-ranked Indiana.
And while Saban’s departure could’ve created chaos, Simpson found clarity under new head coach Kalen DeBoer.
His first spring under DeBoer in 2024 was a turning point - not just in terms of scheme, but in mindset.
“Just got to play ball,” Simpson said. “It was free.
It was offensive-minded and not defensive-minded. Honestly, it probably was better for my development… because I could just play.”
That freedom mattered. For a quarterback who’d spent most of his early college career taking limited, pressure-packed reps - often in defensive-focused settings - the shift was liberating. DeBoer’s approach was simple: let the players play.
“Coach DeBoer, that’s all we did during the spring. ‘Y’all just go play, man.
Just go do you.’ Honestly, I took a huge step.”
That step has turned into a leap. Simpson’s development has sparked serious buzz around his NFL future. He’s now being talked about as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and according to DraftKings Sportsbook, he’s currently listed at +1800 to go No. 1 overall.
But Simpson’s growth isn’t just about stats or draft boards. It’s about leadership and resilience.
Earlier this season, before Alabama’s opener, he sat down with Saban once again - this time for reassurance. The pressure of being the guy in Tuscaloosa isn’t light, and Simpson wanted to ground himself before stepping into the spotlight.
That opener didn’t go Alabama’s way - a loss at Florida State. But Simpson responded the way all great quarterbacks do: by rallying. The Crimson Tide went on to win 10 of their next 12 games, including a playoff-opening win at Oklahoma, before falling to Georgia in the SEC Championship.
Now, with the Rose Bowl looming once again, Simpson returns to the same stadium where he once considered leaving - this time as the face of the program, not the backup.
It’s a full-circle moment. And if his steady rise is any indication, Simpson’s story at Alabama is far from finished.