Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has been placed on the hot seat by several analysts and fans ahead of a pivotal third season at the helm of the Crimson Tide. DeBoer presided over a much-improved Alabama in his second season in charge, reaching the SEC Championship Game and clinching a much-coveted College Football Playoff berth.
Former Alabama DB Explains Why Nick Saban’s Shadow Looms Over Kalen DeBoer
The blowout losses to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game and the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl brought out the pitchforks regarding DeBoer’s continued stay as Alabama’s coach.
After succeeding the legendary Nick Saban, who led the Crimson Tide to six national championships in his glory-filled tenure, DeBoer has been incessantly compared to the college football icon.
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In addition, DeBoer has had the shadow of the former Alabama coach looming over him as Saban maintains an office at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
During Friday’s segment of “The Paul Finebaum Show,” former Alabama safety George Teague addressed the impact of Saban still having an office at the stadium on DeBoer’s troubled reign.
“It’s hard when you have people over your shoulder, particularly when you got an icon or someone back there,” Teague said. “He’s talking to your players still. I can’t imagine me trying to set my own standard in the weight room, on the field and maybe a player’s calling coach, ‘Hey man, I really don’t like this, what’s going on, or I really miss you, coach.’
“And DeBoer, being a nice coach, said, ‘Hey man, I just need him to be around. I’m glad he’s here.’ How many times did he probably come on your show and say, ‘Man, I’m glad Saban is here when he might not have been, honestly.’ So it just makes it hard when you got someone over you like that when you’re trying to fill their shoes.”
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DeBoer and the Crimson Tide have one of the toughest schedules in college football next season. The slate includes clashes against the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas A&M Aggies in Tuscaloosa, along with road games against the Tennessee Volunteers and LSU Tigers, further increasing pressure on the beleaguered coach.
Despite being included in the 12-team College Football Playoff field, Alabama has been predicted to have a woeful 2026 season. Several factors, including a nonexistent running game, a brewing quarterback battle, and a porous offensive line, are still plaguing the team from last season.
