$70 million Kalen DeBoer buyout worth Alabama chasing Super Bowl-winning coach

Jeff Hauser

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$70 million Kalen DeBoer buyout worth Alabama chasing Super Bowl-winning coach image

Alabama didn’t lose a single game to an unranked opponent under Nick Saban. But unfortunately the standard set hasn't remained under Kalen DeBoer

Entering Year 2, Alabama opened ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll and a two-touchdown favorite against Florida State. Yet, the Crimson Tide fell to the Seminoles 31-17, staring down DeBoer’s fourth loss to an unranked team in his first 14 games.

The frustration was noticeable with fans voicing their anger at halftime, which only grew louder as the second half unfolded. By game’s end, a question surfaced across social media about DeBoer's future in Tuscaloosa. 

Clarett: Alabama would pay the price for the right name

Among those weighing in was former Ohio State standout Maurice Clarett, who argued that Alabama’s administration and boosters might be willing to absorb DeBoer’s staggering $70 million buyout if the right coach became available.

“It’s my personal opinion that if Kalen DeBoer continues to struggle down in Tuscaloosa and that if it became known that @barstoolgruden was interested in coaching at Bama that they’d happily pay that buyout of $70 million and bring Gruden in,” Clarett posted on X.

He pointed to Alabama’s fading grip on the SEC’s top tier, now led by Georgia and Texas, as a brand and financial issue for the program and its surrounding community.

“Football generates tons of revenue for these towns,” Clarett wrote. “You have to have a great product to advertise and get people excited about. You have to have recruits and you need to raise money. All of that starts and ends with football in Bama.

“I wish the best of luck to DeBoer but premium coaching roles bring premium pressure.”

The numbers behind DeBoer’s contract

DeBoer currently makes $10 million annually, ranking seventh among college football coaches, according to USA TODAY. His deal also includes incentives that could push his total compensation higher. Alabama already spent $12 million to cover the buyout he owed Washington when he left for Tuscaloosa.

But as of December 1, 2024, DeBoer’s buyout sits at $70 million — the second-largest in the nation. That figure alone would appear to make any mid-contract move prohibitive.

The reality in Tuscaloosa

DeBoer’s first season ended 9-4, with losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma on the road, plus Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. While Alabama was a perfect 7-0 at home, the Tide managed just two wins away from Bryant-Denny Stadium.

For a program used to decades of dominance under Saban, those numbers add to the skepticism. Alabama returns home for a meeting with UL Monroe on Saturday (7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network). 

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Jeff Hauser

Jeff Hauser is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has over twenty years of experience and is a two-time Emmy Award winner, Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award voter. Among the events he has covered are the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, World Series, World Cup, and WBC Boxing. Hauser is a regular guest on FOX Sports and ESPN Radio. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, SB Nation and Athlon Sports.