Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer’s name is back in coaching rumors again regarding potential college football exits

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer had his name mentioned among potential exits during the 2025 season, and despite signing an extension this offseason, his name is being floated yet again.

Rob Gregson — NFL News Writer
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Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer watches in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium.
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer watches in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It feels like ages ago this point given how fast the news cycle and college football calendar move, but there was a time when Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer was among potential candidates to take the Michigan Wolverines job after a bombshell with Sherrone Moore dropped.

In the weeks thereafter, both DeBoer and AD Greg Byrne vowed that he would be staying at the capstone, and a few months ago, DeBoer signed a 7-year contract extension. But that hasn’t stopped some from pondering if DeBoer will be gone after 2026.

Alabama 2027 recruiting class

  • QB Elijah Haven (5-star)
  • LB Kenneth Simon II (4-star)
  • QB Trent Seaborn (4-star)
  • RB Nigel Newkirk (4-star)
  • DL Avrian “AJ” Pauley (3-star)
  • TE Michael Nnabuife (3-star)
  • TE Oakley Keegan (3-star)
  • Kicker Luke Cody
  • RB Tai Phillips (3-star)

Could Kalen DeBoer go to the NFL?

“If Alabama doesn’t make the CFP again, I could see Kalen DeBoer try to get out of the pressure cooker of being the Crimson Tide’s head coach,” Tom Fornelli said on the Cover 3 podcast via 24/7 Sports when discussing a potential move to the NFL for DeBoer.

So there are a few things here. Number one is that the only way that DeBoer leaves Alabama is if he falters. If the Crimson Tide is unable to improve on last season’s return to the College Football Playoff, and it comes up short when it matters most, perhaps the pressure gets to him, and he leaves.

Barring that situation, few, if any, jobs in both professional and collegiate football are better than being the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Kalen DeBoer has spent his entire coaching career in either high school or college. He has never been an NFL coffee grabber.

That doesn’t mean he couldn’t take a job in the NFL, but there is no reason to believe he would ever want to. He is known as a quarterback guru, and his offense runs a ton of NFL concepts that catch the eye of evaluators in the league, but in college, he’s viewed as one of the best in the sport.

His goal is to try to make sure he’s viewed as the best in the sport.

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