Kalen DeBoer talks whether national title will define Alabama football tenure
· Yahoo Sports
2020 was the last time that Alabama football hoisted a national championship. The pressure to do it again could be felt as Kalen DeBoer took the podium at the 2026 SEC Football Kickoff in Tampa.
DeBoer is entering year three as the head coach of the Crimson Tide, a role he inherited from Nick Saban, who brought six national championships to the program during his 17 seasons.
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In year two of the DeBoer era, Alabama was just two wins away from the national title game. However, the 38-3 loss to Indiana marked his eighth loss at the helm of the Crimson Tide, which failed to make the playoff in DeBoer's first season.
The program's history − the nine national championships won before DeBoer was even born in 1974 − begged the question that was eventually asked by a reporter:
"Kalen, do you think your time at Alabama will be defined by whether you win a national championship?
"I certainly know that it's an important part of what's happened in the program, so wouldn't doubt that that's the case," DeBoer answered. "I'm not focused on that."
At DeBoer's last stop in Washington, where he spent two seasons, he reached the national title game with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback. Michigan defeated the Wolverines 34-13.
Kalen DeBoer loves 'challenge' of building on championship history
DeBoer said his focus is on "helping our program be the best and trying to bring out the best and raise the level of everyone around me, from coaching staff to our players, trying to maximize what we are capable of every day," and left his answer at that before moving onto the next question.
Earlier, DeBoer had described what it was like taking a program from a coach as storied as Saban, the challenge it creates.
"One year, you know, winning a championship is hard. What's so impressive with what Coach Saban did for so many years is doing it again because you know everyone's coming after you and everyone's going to bring their best when they face you on the football field," DeBoer said. "That's what I understand took place and happened here during the great times of Coach Saban, obviously, leading the charge here."
"But also, I love the challenge of trying to continue to build on that, continue to add to this program's great, great history."
Alabama starts the 2026 season in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. CT against East Carolina.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer talks whether national title will define Alabama football tenure