Kalen DeBoer is wasting no time putting his stamp on the Alabama Crimson Tide, and his latest move brings in a name with both NFL pedigree and college coaching chops. According to reports, DeBoer is set to hire Adrian Klemm as Alabama’s new offensive line coach-a move that could quietly turn into one of the more impactful additions of this offseason.
Klemm may not be a household name to casual fans, but his résumé runs deep. The former second-round NFL draft pick spent seven seasons in the league as an offensive lineman, suiting up for the Patriots, Packers, and Raiders.
He was part of New England’s early-2000s dynasty, collecting three Super Bowl rings between 2000 and 2004. That kind of championship DNA doesn’t just disappear-it travels with you, especially when you transition into coaching.
After hanging up his cleats, Klemm began building his coaching career at the college level, with early stops at SMU and UCLA. He eventually made the jump to the NFL sidelines, serving as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line coach from 2019 to 2021. During that time, he worked with a mix of veteran linemen and young talent, gaining a reputation for being hands-on and detail-oriented in the trenches.
But it’s his more recent stops that really tell the story of his coaching evolution. In 2022, Dan Lanning brought Klemm to Oregon, where he wore multiple hats: associate head coach, run game coordinator, and offensive line coach. That kind of trust and responsibility speaks volumes, especially in a program that was making a strong push back into national relevance.
Klemm returned to the NFL in 2023 to coach the offensive line for the Patriots, but after Bill Belichick and the organization parted ways, he stepped away from coaching in 2024. That break didn’t last long. Lincoln Riley brought him on as an offensive analyst at USC in 2025, and now, he’s headed to Tuscaloosa to take over Alabama’s offensive line room.
For DeBoer, this hire is about more than just filling a position-it's about building a staff that can develop talent and win at the highest level. Klemm brings a unique blend of experience: he’s coached in the NFL and college, he’s been part of championship teams, and he’s worked under some of the biggest names in the sport. He’s also known for his recruiting ability, particularly on the West Coast, which could open new doors for Alabama in talent-rich areas like California.
The offensive line is a foundational piece for any program, and Alabama is no exception. With Klemm leading that unit, the Tide are bringing in a coach who understands both the physical and mental demands of playing in the trenches.
He’s been there. He’s coached it.
And now he’ll be tasked with molding the next wave of Alabama linemen under a new regime.
This is a savvy move by DeBoer-one that might not generate national headlines today, but could play a major role in shaping Alabama’s identity moving forward.