Ryan Grubb has come close to becoming Alabama football’s offensive coordinator on several occasions. He interviewed with Nick Saban and had accepted the position under Kalen DeBoer last year before deciding to join the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
After Grubb, who had worked with DeBoer at several stops in his career, including Washington, was let go by the Seahawks, speculation began. On Tuesday, while at Senior Bowl practice, DeBoer was directly asked if he had considered adding Grubb to his staff in Tuscaloosa.
DeBoer didn’t dismiss the idea.
“We go way back,” DeBoer said. “Great friend of mine. Think the world of him as a football coach, obviously as a person too. And so, I know he’s working through his process, just kind of after what last season brought, so just gotta see what he does there and (I’m) here for him whenever he needs me. That’s always going to be the case.”
When Grubb departed, DeBoer promoted then-tight ends coach Nick Sheridan to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. While the Crimson Tide offense had some bright moments in 2024, it struggled with consistency and faltered during key situations.
Grubb and DeBoer led Washington to a national championship game appearance after the 2023 season. The Huskies featured a powerful offense, spearheaded by now-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Alabama faces a significant offseason ahead as DeBoer enters his second year following a 9-4 season, which ended with a loss in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The team will also hold a quarterback competition for 2025, with Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and true freshman Keelon Russell all potentially in the running to replace Jalen Milroe, who declared for the NFL Draft.
The Crimson Tide’s 2025 A-Day spring game is scheduled for April 12. Alabama will open DeBoer’s second season in Tallahassee on August 30, facing Florida State.
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Nick Saban sharesa Hilarious Derrick Henry’s Pass Blocking Story From Time at Alabama
Derrick Henry left a lasting legacy on the Alabama football program, winning the 2015 Heisman Trophy and a national championship with the Crimson Tide.
Now a star with the Baltimore Ravens, Henry was coached by the legendary Nick Saban at Alabama. Saban, who recently appeared on The Pivot Podcast with Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor, shared a memorable story about Henry’s early days at Alabama, particularly his struggles with pass protection.
Saban recalled, “Derrick Henry. Alright, so he’s a freshman. We’re doing a team pass drill. And he don’t know his ass from a handful of sand about pass protection, pass blocking, none of this s—. So the coach is—the offensive coordinator is—he doesn’t pick up the right guy or something and the offensive coordinator is getting on him so bad. I’m like, ‘I feel sorry for this guy.
I’m gonna go, you know, rub his neck a little bit.’ And [Henry] looks at me and he says, ‘Coach, I don’t know anything about any of this s—. All they did in high school was turn around and toss me the ball and tell me to run with it. That’s all I know about football. So can you all have a little patience?'”
Saban’s story highlights Henry’s humble beginnings and how even one of the greatest running backs in college football history had to adjust
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 23, 2025
Despite his early struggles, Henry went on to win the Heisman, the Maxwell Award, and a national title—one of six that Saban has claimed at Alabama. This serves as a reminder that even the best players weren’t always perfect at the start.
