Stephen A. Smith slams DeBoer for the way he answered question about being Nick Saban’s successor

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban discusses the Texas Tech football game vs. BYU on College GameDay, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will enter a critical third season as the head coach of the Crimson Tide in 2026. 

DeBoer and the Tide had an extremely promising year in 2025. Alabama was able to defeat the Oklahoma Sooners on the road during the opening round of the College Football Playoff, and the Tide held an 11-4 (7-1 SEC) record on the year overall. 

Coach DeBoer recently took a moment to speak to the media in regard to being Nick Saban’s successor. Many felt like DeBoer said the wrong thing, including ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. 

“I disliked it totally.” Smith said. “That’s my problem with him right there, Jordan and Paul Finebaum. That’s my problem right there. Let me tell you something, you’re talking about Nick Saban. You’re talking about a seven-time champion. You’re talking about a dude that not only resurrected Alabama’s program when he arrived and stayed there for about 17 years, but made them the ‘Crim de la cremè’ of college football. The greatest coach in the history of college football. Your succeeding him, and your saying ‘I just want people to be the best they could possibly be.’ Nobody wants to hear that. Not at Alabama. There is such a thing as reading a room and understanding. That might fly at some place like North Western. It might fly at other schools. It ain’t flying at Alabama.” 

DeBoer has consistently found himself under a microscope over his first two seasons at Alabama. The former Washington head coach has certainly had his ups and downs, but DeBoer now has a multitude of young and talented weapons at his disposal entering 2026.