Lane Kiffin Should Be Alabama’s Head Coach Right Now — And Everyone Knows It

For some Alabama fans, it’s still blasphemy to say it out loud. But deep down — behind the cheers, the loyalty pledges, and the cautious optimism surrounding the current regime — it’s hard to deny a growing truth that’s been simmering ever since Nick Saban stepped away: Lane Kiffin should have been Alabama’s head coach.

Not eventually. Not “maybe one day.” Right now.

When Kalen DeBoer was hired to replace the greatest college football coach of all time, the move was met with a mix of curiosity and quiet confusion. Sure, DeBoer had a great record. Yes, he’d built something special at Washington. But was he the guy? The one who could follow the most dominant era in college football history and not just survive, but sustain? For some, the jury is still out. For others, the verdict was in the second Lane Kiffin’s name wasn’t called.

You can’t rewrite history — but you can question it. And it’s fair to question whether Alabama made the right call. Because if we’re being honest, Lane Kiffin never stopped being the right fit. He was perfect for Alabama then, and he’d be even more perfect now.

Let’s rewind to the beginning of this saga. When Lane joined Saban’s staff in 2014 as offensive coordinator, it was a gamble on both sides. Kiffin’s career was in shambles after flameouts at USC and with the Raiders. Saban, always known for a defensive-minded, methodical style, took a risk by bringing in a high-octane, polarizing, sometimes chaotic offensive guru. What followed was magic.

Alabama’s offense transformed almost overnight. Kiffin modernized the Tide’s system, brought creativity and speed, and unlocked a new era of explosive playmaking. He took quarterbacks like Blake Sims and Jake Coker — hardly NFL-bound superstars — and turned them into national championship-caliber players. He laid the groundwork for the offensive renaissance that would define the late Saban years.

He did everything Alabama fans could’ve asked for — until he didn’t.

Because just before Alabama played for its 18th national title, Kiffin made his mistake. Or maybe it was Alabama’s mistake, depending on how you view it. He accepted the head coaching job at Florida Atlantic and, according to Saban and others close to the program, his focus shifted. The vibe was off. The preparation wasn’t sharp. He was distracted. A decision was made: Kiffin was out before the title game. Steve Sarkisian stepped in. And Alabama lost to Clemson.

For many fans, that’s when Kiffin’s name became radioactive. That one moment of perceived disloyalty was enough to erase years of innovation, of success, of momentum. But here’s the thing — Alabama hasn’t been the same since.

Sure, Saban would go on to win again. Yes, Alabama kept recruiting at an elite level. But the sense of inevitability, the fear Alabama struck into every program, started to fade. Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin started climbing back — rebuilding his reputation, resurrecting Ole Miss, and proving he wasn’t just a brilliant coordinator, but a legitimate head coach who could thrive in the SEC. He matured. He learned. And he kept winning.

So when Saban retired and Alabama had a chance to choose its future, it’s worth asking: why wasn’t Kiffin even seriously considered?

The answer isn’t performance-based. It’s political. It’s emotional. It’s rooted in old grudges, outdated narratives, and fear of controversy. But it’s becoming clearer by the week that Alabama didn’t just hire someone else — they may have passed on the one guy who truly understands what makes this program tick.

Kalen DeBoer is likable. He’s disciplined. He’s clearly competent. But he’s not Alabama. He doesn’t breathe SEC air the way Lane Kiffin does. He hasn’t lived in this fire long enough to know how to manage its heat. He inherited one of the most volatile, high-pressure jobs in sports — and while he’s handling it admirably so far, there’s no shaking the feeling that it should’ve been Lane.

Because Lane knows what it takes. He’s been in the locker room. He’s stood on the same sideline as Saban and watched the blueprint unfold. He’s not guessing what Alabama needs — he’s lived it. He helped build the system that still runs through the program today. He’s one of the few coaches in college football who wouldn’t be intimidated by the weight of that legacy. He’d embrace it — and maybe even elevate it.

Of course, there are those who will push back. They’ll say he burned his bridge. That the national title loss was unforgivable. That Lane Kiffin is too risky, too controversial, too unpredictable.

But you know what else is risky? Playing it safe in the post-Saban era.

You don’t replace a legend with someone who merely keeps the ship steady. You replace him with someone who can build a new empire, not just guard the gates of the old one. Kiffin has proven he’s evolved from the brash, reckless figure he once was. He’s still got edge — but it’s sharpened now. Focused. Strategic. That’s exactly what Alabama needs.

And let’s be honest — for a fanbase that once booed the idea of Nick Saban coming to Tuscaloosa, we’ve been wrong before. A lot of fans hated the Saban hire back in 2007. They thought he was too businesslike, too cold, too transient. They didn’t see the vision. But by 2008? That noise had vanished.

What if Lane Kiffin was our next version of that story? What if he was the coach we rejected too soon — the one who’ll go on to win big elsewhere while Alabama watches from the sidelines, stuck wondering what could’ve been?

This isn’t about disloyalty to DeBoer. He deserves support. He’s earned a chance. But let’s not pretend there wasn’t a better, more obvious choice staring us in the face when the job came open. Lane Kiffin didn’t just understand the Alabama standard — he helped create it.

He was the perfect assistant. He’d be the perfect head coach now.

Say it out loud. Sit with it. Let the initial discomfort pass. Then look at the state of college football — the chaos, the portal, the NIL madness, the evolution of offense, the need for charisma and recruiting firepower. Now tell me Lane Kiffin isn’t the best fit for the job.

You can be loyal to the current coach and still admit the program missed a golden opportunity. The two things aren’t mutually exclusive. Supporting Kalen DeBoer week to week doesn’t erase the feeling that Alabama didn’t swing big enough when it had the chance.

Lane’s time in Tuscaloosa ended with a whisper. But maybe it should’ve ended with a coronation.

If Alabama is truly about doing whatever it takes to win — not just today, but tomorrow, and the day after — then one day, we might all have to confront the reality we’re still too proud to say out loud:

Lane Kiffin should have been the hire.