Stephen A. Smith doesn’t think Kalen DeBoer is the answer in Tuscaloosa. And he’s not exactly being subtle about it.
The ESPN loudmouth went on First Take and made it clear he wants Alabama to cut ties with DeBoer before the 2026 season even starts. Smith’s solution? Just hand the guy a bag of money and tell him to hit the road.
“Give him the money to just go away,” Smith said. “Call him Jimbo Fisher. Call him Brian Kelly. Do something. Get rid of him, because he ain’t the guy.”
Those comments got picked up by the X account Crimson Coverage and they spread fast. For a guy who’s only been the head coach at Alabama since 2024, the heat is already coming.
Has DeBoer Actually Failed?
Well, it depends on who you ask. DeBoer took over for Nick Saban after the 2023 season, which is basically like inheriting a Ferrari with a built-in target on the hood. In 2025, he led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff. They lost to Indiana. No national title game appearance yet under his watch.
Before Alabama, DeBoer had Washington in the CFP in 2023. He knows how to win. But this is Alabama. National championships aren’t just the goal there. They’re the expectation.
Before the 2026 season, DeBoer’s name popped up as a possible candidate for the Michigan job. He shut that down publicly and said he wasn’t leaving. So he’s committed. But is the fan base committed to him?
DeBoer seems to get the pressure.
“You work around your personnel,” DeBoer said, per Roll ‘Bama Roll. “I really do believe you don’t win championships without a physical nature to your program, and that happens through what you do in practice. That’s what we want to become. I know what that looks like, we’ve done it at multiple places.”
He’s saying the right things. But talk is cheap when you’re following a legend.
What Happens Next
Alabama opens the 2026 season on September 5 against East Carolina. That game will tell us a lot about where this program is headed. Smith isn’t the only one watching. But he might be the loudest voice calling for a change before the season even kicks off.
For now, DeBoer still has a job. Whether he keeps it past this season probably depends on how many wins he stacks up and whether Alabama looks like a team that belongs in the national title conversation. Because if they don’t, Stephen A. Smith probably won’t be the only one saying it.
Leave a Comment