Ty Simpson’s Ambitious Approach with Kalen DeBoer

Ty Simpson has been a figure that many Alabama fans feel one way or another about. The current second-string quarterback at the University of Alabam has appeared in six games so far this season for the Crimson Tide as a redshirt sophomore and is in line to compete for the starting quarterback position once again following the likely departure of Jalen Milroe to the 2025 NFL draft.

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Simpson competed with Milroe for the 2023 starting quarterback job, but ultimately lost the competition. Simpson did play in 2023, leading Alabama to a 17-3 victory over the South Florida Bulls in Tampa, Florida, when Milroe did not play in the contest.

He had the opportunity to transfer following the retirement of former head coach Nick Saban but ultimately chose to stay at the University of Alabama under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Simpson had an interesting approach with DeBoer, revealing in an interview with Roger Hoover what he said to the new leader of the Alabama Football team in their first meeting.

"I told Coach DeBoer in our first meeting, 'You are the successor of Coach Saban, now I want to be the successor to you when you retire here.'" Simpson said. "'When you retire here and have a great career like Coach Saban had, I want to be done with my NFL career and take your job.'"

What was DeBoer's reaction?

"he started laughing," Simpson said. "He said we'll try to make that happen."

Simpson grew up the son of a coach, with his dad, Jason Simpson, being the head coach of the UT-Martin football program. Jason Simpson has amassed a career record of 123-91 as the head coach of the Skyhawks since 2006.

Simpson has won three conference championships as the head coach of UT-Martin, winning the Ohio Valley Conference in 2006, 2021, and 2022. He has also won two Big South conference championships in 2023 and 2024. He was named the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2006 and currently holds a 1-2 record in the NCAA D-1 Playoffs.

Ty Simpson has amassed 381 passing yards, 130 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns in three seasons with the Crimson Tide. he was the third-string quarterback behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe in 2022 and the backup quarterback to Jalen Milroe in 2023 and 2024.