From the moment Michigan fired Sherrone Moore on Wednesday, the top candidate on every "hot board" was Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. The familiar tropes questioning DeBoer's fit and happiness in Tuscaloosa were used as a reason, despite DeBoer publicly denying the Penn State rumors a week ago while making it clear that he and his family are happy at Alabama.
DeBoer has yet to comment on the Michigan vacancy. He won't talk to the media again until Monday. But ESPN's Pete Thamel said on Thursday that there's yet to be any indication that DeBoer would have any interest in the Wolverines' job. On3's Chris Low made it clear he didn't believe DeBoer would leave Alabama for Michigan.
That hasn't stopped the national media wishcasting. It also hasn't stopped delusional Michigan fans from assuming they can pull Alabama's head coach.
But perhaps a report on Thursday evening will bring a little more realism to the coaching search in Ann Arbor.
Because it does look like a coach with Alabama ties will be a serious candidate for the head coaching job. Just not the one they wanted.
According to Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot, Michigan is showing interest in Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator - and former Alabama OC - Tommy Rees:
#Michigan has interest in #Browns OC Tommy Rees for its head coach vacancy, league source tells clevelanddotcom: ---> https://t.co/uBKbevDNGM
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 12, 2025
Former Alabama OC Tommy Rees is a candidate for Michigan
Rees is well thought of in the coaching industry. He was Alabama's offensive coordinator in 2023 during Nick Saban's final season as the Crimson Tide's head coach. Saban thought highly enough of Rees that he encouraged Greg Byrne to interview Rees for the head coaching job after he retired.
At just 31 years old at the time with zero head coaching experience, Rees was not a serious candidate for the job. But it shows how highly Saban thought of him.
Rees spent the 2024 season as the TE coach for the Browns before being quickly promoted to offensive coordinator this season.
Rees has been a popular name in collegiate coaching searches, often being listed as a candidate. It seems like only a matter of time before he takes over as a head coach of his own program. Could it be a program as high-profile as Michigan right away?
That would certainly not be the home run that Michigan fans are hoping for. Rees is a quality coach, but how he would run his own program is still an unknown. It would be a risk, but this late in the coaching carousel, with most of the big names having already moved on or signed extensions, Michigan may find the candidate pool a lot more shallow than they hoped.