Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron flamed Stephen A. Smith and Paul Finebaum because of their recent comments about Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football.
On The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty, McCarron was shown a clip from ESPN’s First Take where Smith said DeBoer “ain’t the guy” for the head coaching job in Tuscaloosa. On the right of Smith was Finebaum, who recently went on ESPN’s Get Up and called DeBoer “AI-generated” and declared on numerous programs that DeBoer is on the hot seat.
“The biggest sports network in the entire country, and we’re listening to these two dudes?” McCarron said. “Paul Finebaum couldn’t of played for my park ball team. He looks like the local librarian. What are we talking about? I ain’t listening to nothing these dudes say. I like Stephen A., but damn, he’s an expert in everything. You ask him about rowing, and all of a sudden, he’s gonna have stats up.”
McCarron locked in specifically on Smith for a moment, implying that he doesn’t even think Smith knows a single player on Alabama’s defense. He also said Smith is just “a Saban fan” and creates smoke for views and clicks.
“He’s a Saban fan,” McCarron said in reference to Smith. “He’s said it a million times. He’s a Saban fan. He’s just creating smoke for views, clicks, the shit he does.”
So far, DeBoer has a 20-8 overall record in his two seasons as Alabama football’s head coach, and the upcoming 2026 college football season is one that could define the Kalen DeBoer era.
It took Saban three seasons to win a national championship at Alabama, and he went on to win multiple championships, solidifying himself as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time.
Fans and media compare and contrast Saban and DeBoer. People have handled the transition from Saban to DeBoer differently, but after a few disastrous losses in 2024 and 2025, the national media has been expressing opinions that DeBoer is on the hot seat in Tuscaloosa despite having his contract extended.
Smith and Finebaum have been the most focal when it comes to criticizing Alabama football and Kalen DeBoer, but McCarron believes no one should listen to those two guys ahead of the 2026 season.
