Alabama’s Kalen DoBoer could be fired despite hefty $63M buyout if Crimson Tide hits rock bottom originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Alabama Crimson Tide didn’t look impressive on Saturday in their season opener, marking the beginning of Year Two under head coach Kalen DeBoer. To put it bluntly, the performance was ugly—it was Alabama’s first season-opening loss in 24 years. The defeat served as a harsh wake-up call for the Crimson Tide.
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“If No. 8 Alabama needed any reminder that the Nick Saban era is over, they got it Saturday during their 31–17 loss to Florida State. The Crimson Tide not only began the season with a loss, but to an unranked Seminoles team by two possessions. The Seminoles, who went 2–10 a season ago, held control for much of the game over Alabama,” SI’s Eva Geitheim wrote.
Despite the disappointing performance, DeBoer remains confident in his team’s potential.
“I choose to believe we’ve got a good football team,” DeBoer said. “But we can’t play on our heels. We’re not going to be what we think we can be, what we want to be, if that’s the case. And that falls on everyone. I don’t just point the finger at the players.”
DeBoer carries a substantial $63 million buyout, which could be a major reason he remains in Tuscaloosa—for now.
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“Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has one of college football’s largest buyouts this season at approximately $63 million following a multi-year contract he signed in January 2024 to succeed Nick Saban with the Crimson Tide,” CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford wrote.
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However, On3’s Andy Staples believes that not even the massive buyout will save DeBoer if the Tide continue to lose.
“If you have 3 more losses like that this year, he’s going to be fired. I don’t care how big the buyout is. It’s Alabama. You can’t go 8-4,” Staples wrote.
Alabama finds itself in unfamiliar territory with an 0-1 start, and if three more poor performances follow, major changes are likely. Under DeBoer, the Crimson Tide have struggled on the road, raising concerns about how they’ll fare in hostile SEC environments. For the first time in a long while, Alabama’s football program may be facing genuine head coaching instability.
