Jordan Rodgers defends Alabama's hefty Kalen DeBoer extension, citing proven playoff success and the evolving NIL landscape.
There had been speculation since the College Football Playoff that Alabama wanted to sign head coach Kalen DeBoer to a contract extension.
DeBoer went 20-8 during his first two years with the program. While he hasn't been as successful as Nick Saban, DeBoer brought the team to an SEC championship appearance and made it to the CFP quarterfinal in January.
Still, there are questions about DeBoer's ability to recruit. The team lost two key transfers following a 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
On Wednesday, the Crimson Tide signed DeBoer to a new seven-year contract that will up his annual salary up to $12.5 million. It comes months after his name was connected to Michigan.
There are obvious questions as to why Alabama waited until the spring to extend the contract. Frankly, there are serious concerns about the current roster being able to make a CFP appearance.
During an appearance on ESPN's Get Up, former Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers defended Alabama's decision to extend the contract of DeBoer.
“He’s a guy that’s proven at every stop he can be a winner and take a team to a College Football Playoff," Rodgers said, via On3. "Took Washington there. Now, Alabama in Year 1, they were the first one on the outside. Year 2, they get to the playoff. They win a road playoff game.
"Obviously, it fell apart against Indiana after that. But, in this era, the twisted kind of mindset of the Alabama fans is, ‘Well, we should be dominant every year. We should only lose one game at most.’"
Rodgers thinks losing four games a year could be the new normal at Alabama.
“That was the old college football, where Nick Saban, yes, was the GOAT, but also you had a monopoly on recruiting and facilities," Rodgers said. "With the NIL era, that’s not the same. Competition is even across the board.
"It’s only going to get harder and harder to sustain success, and he’s proven he can do that multiple different ways, despite some bumps in the road. He’s absolutely worked.”
Right, but Curt Cignetti is getting paid $13.2 million per season for going undefeated and winning a national championship. DeBoer hasn't come close to having the same success as Cignetti in the two years they've been with their respective programs.
Does that mean DeBoer needed to be fired?
No. But he had more to prove before signing an extension.