Kalen DeBoer is not on the hot seat heading into the 2026 season.
He probably wasn't anyway, barring some kind of abject disaster of a season, but he's certainly not now. Shortly before the University of Alabama's Board of Trustees met on Wednesday for their competition committee, a new contract for DeBoer was added to the agenda, meaning the long-discussed extension had been agreed to:
BREAKING: Kalen DeBoer and Alabama have agreed to a new contract extension, On3 has learned🐘https://t.co/O0ogyl4JQg pic.twitter.com/qMlymXLuj2
— On3 (@On3) April 22, 2026
DeBoer was a popular name in the coaching carousel during the season, being linked to vacancies at both Penn State and Michigan. The Michigan smoke was the heaviest, leading some to believe that if Alabama lost the Iron Bowl - or didn't come back and beat Oklahoma in the opening round of the College Football Playoff - that DeBoer was going to leave Alabama.
But reports surfaced that Alabama and DeBoer had been working on a contract extension. In the aftermath of the Crimson Tide's blowout loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl, those conversations were quieted. Four months later, and with little fanfare, DeBoer and Alabama have reached an agreement.
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama reach an agreement on a contract extension
DeBoer's contract extension is for seven years and will pay him an average annual salary of $12.5 million, making him the third-highest-paid coach in college football. That's a raise of $2 million from his previous annual salary of $10.5 million.
Some fans may disagree with Byrne giving this extension to DeBoer in the aftermath of how last season ended and Alabama's 20-8 overall record in two seasons under DeBoer's leadership.
But that's the price of doing business in this era of college football.
It was obvious, despite the disapproval of some Alabama fans, that DeBoer is still highly thought of nationally. Blue Blood programs like Penn State and Michigan don't come sniffing around just anybody.
This will still be a pivotal third season for DeBoer, though the pressure won't be as severe with the recently signed extension. It was likely going to be too expensive for Alabama to fire DeBoer, even with a third substandard season.
This gives DeBoer a little longer leash, which is good news for him as he enters the 2026 season with a talented, albeit young, team. But with how he has recruited since arriving in Tuscaloosa, there's optimism that, with a roster that is now fully his, better results will follow and Alabama will be able to compete for national championships again.
Add us as a preferred source on Google