Well, Kalen DeBoer bites the bullet as he takes on the coaching job at Alabama, following in Nick Saban’s legendary footsteps. DeBoer inherits a program steeped in Saban’s legacy, a 292-71-1 career record, and six national titles—and faces immediate challenges. On top of that, a 9-4 debut, playoff exclusion, and losses to Michigan, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt created a tough start. Now, leading a new offense with fresh faces like QB Jalen Milroe is difficult. Yet, his 40-9 career record speaks volumes. And embracing Alabama’s tradition, he starts carving out his own legacy, determined to prove he’s not just keeping the seat warm—he’s here to stay.

Taking forward Nick Saban’s 17-year-long legacy isn’t that easy, but ever wondered why Kalen DeBoer was the one who replaced him? Well, that’s because DeBoer never tried to change Alabama’s tradition; he just entered it and took it forward with full power. Even Bama’s Sports Director, David Ballou, said that he knew DeBoer wouldn’t enter the room and say, “We are going to do things my way!” That’s what happened.

The night before his introduction, DeBoer met with the team and key leaders. He spends an hour in deep conversation with them, hoping to understand the situation better. Digging into Bama’s DNA, he just reads the room and takes notes for the road ahead. But that understanding didn’t come easily. Kalen DeBoer drew on years of experience following in the footsteps of legendary coaches and honoring their legacies. His first mentor? Jeff Tedford, whom he followed at Fresno State, and then came Chris Petersen at Washington. “I think embracing what has happened at those places and the experiences I had helped me understand just how, man, there’s only one way to do it, and it’s to embrace the tradition, to embrace the greatness of those that came before you,” DeBoer admitted on Coach Mark Gottfried’s podcast.

That’s how he embraced Nick Saban’s legacy here at Alabama. “Coach Saban, you know there’s no denying what an amazing legacy he’s left here and what he’s done for this program, how he just improved it in every way possible, and so, you know, again, that’s, to me, the experiences I had in the past that helped me really understand how there’s only one way. And it’s just truly in my heart how it has to be, and celebrating the great players, the great coaches, whether it’s Coach Saban or any of his assistants,” Kalen DeBoer said. The talent Nick Saban left is worth embracing. With 133 players selected in drafts, including a record 44 in the first round, it is beyond excellence.

Best part? For 17 seasons, Alabama’s amassed a staggering 175 All-SEC selections—109 first-team, 68 second-team—nearly a whole starting lineup each year. From 2008 through last season’s agonizing playoff overtime loss, the Crimson Tide didn’t just compete; they reigned supreme. For 15 consecutive years, they claimed the AP Poll’s top spot, obliterating Miami’s previous seven-year record (1986-92).

So, to carry forward such a high-achieving legacy, they needed someone like Kalen DeBoer, who’s unfazed by the spotlight and built for the pressure. And he’s already high on it. “Just bringing it all together is what I truly enjoy doing, and I get to do that with our own team each and every day. You know, I’m still learning the history, and the more and more I’m here, it’s fun bringing the alumni back; it’s fun meeting them and hearing their stories.” “I’m still connecting dots once in a while on who played for who, and who was teammates and who was the receiver that was catching the balls from the quarterback, but what games that those were tied to,” Kalen DeBoer said.  But Kalen DeBoer was never alone in this journey…

Nick Saban backed Kalen DeBoer during his initial days

When Kalen DeBoer stepped into Nick Saban’s shoes, he didn’t do it alone. That’s right. Though retired and at ESPN, Saban maintained an office and open communication at Bryant-Denny Stadium. DeBoer readily utilized this. “He’s been great. I think there’s all but been one time where he hasn’t picked up the phone, and about five minutes later, I think he called me back.” DeBoer said.

During the tumultuous transition, DeBoer frequently sought Saban’s counsel, leveraging his institutional knowledge amidst staff changes and roster evaluations. “So he’s just been amazing. And not just for me, but I know [defensive coordinator] Kane Wommack and the defensive staff are excited about having continued conversations, just talking ball. We have great coaches on our staff, but you can’t help but make sure that you utilize that resource in Coach Saban,” DeBoer added. He wisely tapped into this wellspring of experience, avoiding reinventing the wheel and drawing on the architect of one of college football’s most dominant programs.

That early support helped Kalen DeBoer put up a strong roster for this season, adding key players like Kadyn Proctor and Keelon Russell to his team. But despite all that, no one can deny the fact that Alabama messed up big time last season. And now, Kalen DeBoer enters his second season at Alabama with pressure mounting from all sides. A 9-4 debut season left fans grappling with expectations. “At this point, the fan base right now, just trying to be patient with Kalen DeBoer,” Joel Klatt noted, though that patience is wearing thin after Alabama’s first sub-10-win season since Nick Saban’s arrival in 2007.

DeBoer understands the program’s zero-tolerance for anything less than dominance, a standard maintained for nearly two decades. “And not just win, but win big and win at the highest level of college football,” Klatt emphasizes. Moreover, the expanded playoff format intensifies the pressure. Alabama’s crushing 24-3 loss to Oklahoma last season highlighted the cost of even one slip-up, a defeat crucial to their playoff exclusion. With the SEC no longer guaranteeing playoff berths for 9-3 teams, every game now carries playoff implications.

So, with the weight of Nick Saban’s legacy, let’s wait and see if Kalen DeBoer can turn Alabama’s fate this season or end up missing that playoff berth again.