Alabama players stand up for Kalen DeBoer amid national criticism

Nov 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer high fives Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Michael Carroll (64) during the first half against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

Over the last few months, Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer has gotten a heavy dose of disrespect from the national media.

From Paul Finebaum calling DeBoer “AI generated” because of the way he answered a question about national doubt to Stephen A. Smith repeatedly saying DeBoer is not the guy in Tuscaloosa, the remarks targeting DeBoer continue to stack up as the 2026 college football season inches closer and closer. These are a few of the opinions from some of the top sports media personalities in the nation, but the players view DeBoer very differently.

Offensive guard Michael Carroll acknowledged that DeBoer is not the most praised head coach in the media, but he believes DeBoer is one of the best coaches in the country.

“Kalen DeBoer is a really great coach,” Carroll said at Alabama’s Media Day. “He gets maybe not as much praise in the media because he’s following Nick Saban, I think he’s probably like one of the best coaches in the country. The way he runs this program and what he demands out of his players, I look up to him, and I think our whole team respects him and wants to play hard for him.”

DeBoer’s total record as Alabama football’s head coach is 20-8. The Crimson Tide failed to reach the playoffs in 2024 under DeBoer, but they reached the CFP quarterfinals last season. The embarrassing 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl radically changed the opinions that fans and reporters had of DeBoer.

Through all of the highs and lows of DeBoer’s first two seasons as the head coach of Alabama football, defensive back Bray Hubbard said there’s one big thing that he learned about DeBoer.

“Dude’s got our back through it all,” Hubbard said. “I love that dude to death. Obviously, for me, he’s the one that took a chance on me and alongside with the rest of the coaching staff to play here at the university, so I got nothing but respect for Coach DeBoer. He pushes us every day in and out and just to get better and focus on us, and that’s what you want.”

DeBoer got a contract extension this offseason, and this shows the trust level Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne. Still, some in the national media like Finebaum and Stephen A. believe DeBoer is on the hot seat, but players do not believe the temperature of DeBoer’s seat is even remotely warm.

Alabama defensive back Ivan Taylor explained why he believes DeBoer is the right man for the job in Tuscaloosa.

“When it comes down to the team, he [DeBoer] makes sure we’re in the best scenario we can be in,” Taylor said. “He’s never gonna put us in a bad scenario, and I think as a head coach, you want that. You don’t want to have a reckless head coach because then you’ll have a reckless team. So, it really starts from the head coach and down.”

DeBoer’s third season as the head coach of Alabama will kick off on Sept. 5. The Crimson Tide will host East Carolina.