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Stephen A. Smith calls for Kalen DeBoer’s firing before 2026 season appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith is never one to shy away from giving his opinions. He is making a strong statement regarding the job status of Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer. Smith says Alabama should part ways with DeBoer, before this upcoming season.
“Give him the money to just go away,” Smith said on First Take. “Call him Jimbo Fisher. Call him Brian Kelly. Do something. Get rid of him, because he ain’t the guy.”
The comments were picked up by the X account Crimson Coverage, which shared them on social media.
These words from Smith may be surprising to some. DeBoer just led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in 2025, where the team lost to Indiana. The head coach has yet to make an appearance in the national championship game, as Alabama’s head coach.
DeBoer has been the head coach at Alabama since the 2024 season. He replaced the legendary Nick Saban, who retired following the 2023 campaign.
Before heading to Alabama, DeBoer took Washington to the CFP in 2023. DeBoer was mentioned as a possible candidate to take the head coaching job at Michigan before the 2026 season. He publicly rejected the idea of leaving Alabama.
While DeBoer has had success in his tenure in Tuscaloosa, Alabama football fans do have high expectations. The Crimson Tide hopes to win national championships every year.
DeBoer has embraced these high expectations.
“You work around your personnel,” DeBoer said, per Roll ‘Bama Roll. “I really do believe you don’t win championships without a physical nature to your program, and that happens through what you do in practice. That’s what we want to become. I know what that looks like, we’ve done it at multiple places.”
Alabama kicks off the 2026 football season on September 5. The Crimson Tide play East Carolina.
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