Nick Saban’s Secret Conversation That Kept Ty Simpson at Alabama — Did the GOAT Just Save Kalen DeBoer’s Offensive Future?
When Nick Saban stepped down from the sidelines in January 2024, many assumed his influence over Alabama football would gradually fade. Yet, even in retirement, the legendary coach continues to shape the Crimson Tide’s future — and a private conversation he had months before hanging it up may have just safeguarded one of the program’s most important pieces: quarterback Ty Simpson.
Simpson, a five-star recruit from Martin, Tennessee, joined Alabama in 2022 with dreams of leading the Tide’s offense. But reality quickly tested him. First, he sat behind Bryce Young, then Jalen Milroe. For two straight coaching regimes, Simpson waited patiently, even as speculation swirled about whether he might enter the transfer portal in search of more immediate opportunities.
That moment nearly came. According to Simpson’s father, Jason, the family approached Nick Saban just three weeks before his retirement to discuss Ty’s future. On WNSP-FM 105.5’s The Opening Kickoff, Jason recalled the pivotal exchange.
“If he wasn’t good enough, as a head coach, just let me know and we’ll find a place,” Jason told Saban candidly.
“Coach Saban said, ‘No, Jason. I think he needs to stay right here. It gives him the best opportunity to be a higher draft pick. We’ll surround him with good players. I think he needs to stay here. I feel like we can accomplish the same things when he gets an opportunity to play.’”
For Jason Simpson, the reassurance was monumental: “That let me know right there that Coach Saban thought he had the ability, thought he was a good player.”
The impact of Saban’s words can’t be overstated. In the transfer portal era — where quarterbacks bolt at the first sign of limited snaps — keeping a talent like Ty Simpson on board is nothing short of program-saving. For new head coach Kalen DeBoer, inheriting an experienced, battle-ready QB who has already spent years within Alabama’s system could be the foundation he needs to launch his version of the Tide offense.
Simpson’s patience may soon pay off. Insiders say his growth has been steady, his understanding of the playbook unmatched, and his leadership qualities are emerging just as Alabama prepares for a new chapter. Fans, too, have taken notice, buzzing across forums and social media about the “next man up” mentality that has defined Simpson’s journey.
But beyond X’s and O’s, the story highlights Saban’s enduring legacy. Even as he prepared to walk away, his influence extended far beyond the field, shaping careers and steadying the Crimson Tide when uncertainty loomed. It wasn’t a fiery halftime speech or a headline-making game plan — it was a quiet, behind-the-scenes conversation that may end up being one of his most important assists.
Now, the question lingers: Did Nick Saban’s belief in Ty Simpson just preserve Alabama’s quarterback future — and with it, Kalen DeBoer’s offensive success?
If Simpson lives up to the faith his legendary coach placed in him, Crimson Tide fans may look back at this moment as the hidden turning point that kept Alabama on top.
