Kalen DeBoer stepped into a pressure cooker when he took the Alabama head coaching job, following the legendary Nick Saban, whose seven national titles set a bar most can only dream of reaching. At Alabama, it’s championship or bust—anything less feels like a letdown. DeBoer’s first season in Tuscaloosa, a 9-4 record with a Peach Bowl loss to Texas, would be a solid debut anywhere else. But in the Crimson Tide’s world, it’s a blip that had fans grumbling and expectations looming larger than Bryant-Denny Stadium. As DeBoer gears up for year two, he’s leaning on time, trust, and a clear mission to get his players—and the program—back to the College Football Playoff (CFP) promised land.
On Greg McElroy’s Always College Football show, DeBoer opened up about building bonds with a roster he didn’t handpick. “The real intentions are for them to be the best they can be,” he said, emphasizing his focus on helping players grow as athletes and people. “It’s about what we’re trying to do together to help everyone reach the goals that they have individually and we have collectively.” That’s coach-speak, sure, but it’s rooted in a truth Alabama players need to hear after a transition year. Many of these guys were recruited by Saban, and adjusting to DeBoer’s style—less fire-and-brimstone, more player-first—has taken time. His 2024 stats (9-4, 6-2 SEC, No. 14 final AP rank) show a team that competed but fell short against rivals like Tennessee and Oklahoma, games Saban might’ve squeezed out.
Time’s been DeBoer’s ally, as he told McElroy. Relationships with players like quarterback Jalen Milroe, who threw for 2,163 yards and 13 touchdowns but struggled with consistency, are deepening. DeBoer’s consistency—sticking to his message of growth and collective goals—could be the glue that holds this team together. His track record at Washington, where he went 25-3 and reached the 2023 CFP National Championship, proves he can build a winner. But Alabama’s different. Fans expect a 12-team CFP berth at minimum, and anything less than a deep run in 2025 will crank up the heat. The SEC’s a gauntlet—Georgia, Texas, and LSU aren’t slowing down—and DeBoer’s got to navigate it with a roster blending his recruits, like five-star QB Keelon Russell, and Saban’s holdovers.
Picture DeBoer on the sideline, headset on, rallying Milroe and a revamped defense to shut down a rival in Tuscaloosa. His 67-12 career record across all stops shows he knows how to win, but Alabama demands dominance. If he can get his players fully bought in, like he did at Washington with Michael Penix Jr., the Tide could roll back to the CFP. Losses like the 24-17 upset to Vanderbilt in 2024 stung, but they’re lessons DeBoer’s using to sharpen his approach. He’s got the talent—Ryan Williams led with 857 receiving yards as a freshman—and the system, averaging 34.1 points per game last year. Now it’s about execution under Alabama’s unforgiving spotlight.
DeBoer’s got no choice but to lean on his players, and they need to have his back. With spring practices underway and a brutal 2025 schedule ahead (road trips to Georgia and LSU), trust and consistency will be everything. If he can channel that intention—making every rep about growth—Alabama might just silence the doubters. But in Tuscaloosa, it’s natty or nothing, and DeBoer’s got one year to prove he’s the man to deliver. Roll Tide, but the clock’s ticking.
