New Alabama Head Coach Loses Coaches to NFL Jobs
In a surprising turn of events, new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has already lost multiple coaches to new NFL positions. Just a month after being named offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ryan Grubb is making his way back to the NFL. Grubb has been hired by Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald to serve as the team’s offensive coordinator. This news was first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Joining Grubb in Seattle is Alabama’s offensive line coach, Scott Huff, who will be taking on the role of Grubb’s O-line coach. This information was first reported by the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Macdonald spoke highly of Grubb during an interview on the ‘Brock & Salk’ show, praising his skills as an offensive line coach. It seems that Grubb’s expertise will be a valuable asset to the Seahawks as they prioritize their positions in the upcoming draft.
Grubb and DeBoer have a successful history together, boasting a record of 24-2 during their time at Washington. They have been working together on and off since 2007 when Grubb joined DeBoer’s staff as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Sioux Falls. Grubb’s pass-heavy offensive strategy was instrumental in Washington quarterback Michael Penix’s impressive performance last season, throwing for nearly 5,000 yards. Now, Grubb will be working with veteran quarterback Geno Smith.
Seattle Sports quotes Macdonald as saying, “He’s been a winner everywhere he’s been. I think it speaks to his football character and the success he and Kalen have achieved together.” It’s clear that Grubb’s track record and leadership skills have made a strong impression on the Seahawks organization.
As Grubb embarks on this new opportunity, Alabama’s coaching staff will undergo some changes. Scott Huff is expected to join the Seahawks as their offensive line coach. Meanwhile, Nick Sheridan and JaMarcus Shephard are likely to remain co-offensive coordinators for Alabama, with Sheridan potentially taking on the role of playcaller or moving to quarterbacks.
With Grubb now gone, it’s looking like DeBoer may be calling the plays on offense himself. According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, DeBoer could potentially take over as the sole playcaller in his first year. Rittenberg also mentioned that tight ends coach Nick Sheridan and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard are likely to remain as co-OCs, with Sheridan possibly transitioning to quarterbacks.
Last season, under Grubb’s leadership, Washington’s offense was impressive, averaging 36.0 points and 462.1 total yards per game. Their pass-heavy approach, which resulted in an average of 343.7 passing yards per game, ranked second in the nation. It will be intriguing to see how DeBoer manages the offense without his trusted right-hand man.
In a December 2023 interview with The Athletic, DeBoer spoke highly of Grubb, stating, “We’ve been through the fire for so many years together. I can see play calls he’s building into the game plan and know exactly why he’s doing it and not even have to ask why he’s doing it.” Now, with Grubb and Huff back in Washington, they have a fresh opportunity to prove themselves, while DeBoer will need to demonstrate his abilities without their support.
Beth Mishler-Elmore
According to the Source heavy.com