Alabama commits to Kalen DeBoer long-term

April 22, 2026 – TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama, as expected, gave a contract extension to Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer. The new $87.5 million deal was approved on Wednesday by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

The move removes any speculation about DeBoer's long term future with the program, extending his current contract by two seasons and increasing his pay to $12.5 million dollars a year. This extends him through January 31, 2033.

"My family and I would like to thank the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Trant, President Mohler, Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, our athletics administration and football staff, this community and the University for their continued support of Alabama Football," said DeBoer in a statement. "We are excited about the opportunity to continue our time in Tuscaloosa with this contract extension. This University has become a special place to us, and I look forward to working to ensure that Alabama football remains at the forefront of college football. This program has a long history of success and an unmatched tradition that I was eager to be a part of two years ago, and I cannot wait to keep coaching our guys and bring more championships to Alabama."

"We are pleased to extend Coach DeBoer and are proud to have him leading the Crimson Tide football program," said Alabama Athletics Director Greg Byrne. "He is an excellent coach and has done a commendable job developing our student-athletes. Thanks to President Mohler, Chancellor Trant and our Board of Trustees for their support and approval of this extension."

DeBoer is 20 and 8 after replacing legendary Coach Nick Saban as Coach of the Tide. He has a 124 and 20 career record in his 11 seasons as a head coach. He has won playoff games in two of his last three seasons including a national championship game appearance in 2024 as the coach of Washington. His 2025 Alabama team went to the SEC Championship game but lost to Georgia. The Tide defeated Oklahoma in round one of the playoffs, but was crushed by eventual national champion Indiana in the Rose Bowl.

The $87.5 million contract is filled with perks, including paid for country club membership and 55 hours a year of personal travel on the University of Alabama jet.

The buyout is reportedly 80% of what is still owed on the contract if the Tide were to fire DeBoer without cause (losing games is not cause). This means that effectively Alabama cannot afford to seriously consider firing DeBoer in the next four years. Alabama has struggled over the last four years to compete with bigger schools in the arms race needed to pay players. The University is having to pay $20.5 million a year in direct compensation to players (all sports), while seeking another $20 million plus a year in name, image & likeness compensation (NIL) to compete with better funded programs like; Texas, Tezas Tech, LSU, Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, etc. Paying a massive coach's buyout, buying out the assistant coaches, paying a high dollar new coach, and a new staff while still competing for free agents in the transfer portal (in a sport with no salary cap) would be financially crippling for the program.

It is widely speculated that Michigan had presented DeBoer with a contract back in December, and that Byrne promised DeBoer a raise and an extension following the playoff win over Oklahoma. DeBoer passed on the Michigan job and Byrne has honored his end of the agreement with a two-year extension and a 25% raise making him the highest paid coach in University of Alabama history.

The financial reality of the situation now effectively ends any speculation that DeBoer could be on the hot season this season.

The Tide's 2026 football season is scheduled to open on September 5, 2026, against East Carolina in Tuscaloosa.

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