Alabama football did not look the same in 2024 without Nick Saban at head coach. The Crimson Tide hired former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer to take over for Saban after his shocking retirement in January 2024.

Kalen DeBoer’s first season as Alabama football’s head coach didn’t meet expectations. There’s plenty of places where a nine-win season and a bowl appearance would be cause for celebration under a new coach,

Kalen DeBoer knows Alabama football has to be better. Standing outside of Hancock Whitney Stadium for the 2025 Senior Bowl, the Alabama football coach harkened back to his expectation for the Crimson Tide when he first took the job: to perform at a championship level.

Kalen DeBoer's first season as Alabama's head football coach is widely believed to be a major flop when looking at it from the "Bama Standard" Nick Saban set. Keeping that aside, DeBoer has done a commendable job with a four-loss season and largely in everything he has done after the conclusion of their season.

Alabama will have a new starting quarterback taking reps when the Crimson Tide opens the 2025 season on the road against Florida State. And as spring practice nears, DeBoer said he sees an opportunity for incoming redshirt junior Ty Simpson.