Greg McElroy raves about Ryan Grubb hire at Alabama, synergy with Kalen DeBoer

On Sunday, Alabama hired Ryan Grubb to be its next offensive coordinator. Grubb has an extensive history with Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer, most recently working with him during Washington‘s run to an appearance in the National Championship in 2023. On Monday, ESPN’s Greg McElroy weighed in on the massive hire.

“This is a great hire for Kalen DeBoer and this staff,” McElroy said. “Ryan Grubb is an amazingly cerebral coach, very thoughtful, very intentional. If you look at the different ways that he tries to attack opposing defenses, he has a great feel for how to create confusion, whether it’s with multiple tight end sets, multiple wide receiver sets, unique motions and shifts, both pre-snap and while the ball is being snapped — he creates a lot of problems for the opponent.

“That’s why Nick Saban wanted them, that’s why the NFL wanted him and that’s why Kalen DeBoer wants him to come in.”

Grubb spent this past season as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. The Seahawks fired Grubb after the regular season concluded. The Seahawks’ decision came as a surprise to many fans.

After all, the Seahawks averaged 332.2 yards of offense per game this past season, ranking in the top half of the NFL. For reference, the Kansas City Chiefs averaged five fewer yards per game.

With the Seahawks not appreciating his talents, Grubb will look to show off his offensive expertise in Tuscaloosa while reuniting with his old friend, Kalen DeBoer. Grubb and DeBoer’s time together wasn’t limited to Washington.

The pair have been coaching together since Grubb came to Sioux Falls in 2007. Since then, Grubb has stuck by DeBoer’s side, serving as an offensive coordinator at Fresno State and Washington. Now, Grubb and DeBoer will look to make magic happen again, this time at Alabama.

However, the addition of Grubb creates a question for the Crimson Tide. Nick Sheridan served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator last season and has not parted ways with the program. DeBoer revealed how he believes Alabama should handle the unusual situation.

“I have not heard anything at the moment that Nick Sheridan is going anywhere,” McElroy said. “He’s just not going to have the offense coordinator title and will not call the plays… But Nick Sheridan played quarterback at Michigan — has been in that position, has been in that helmet, understands how to relate to the quarterback because he played it and played it at a high level at Michigan under very bright lights.

“It’s just a matter of who now goes where within this staff because you don’t want to lose Nick Sheridan in favor of Ryan Grubb. You want to find a capable spot for Nick Sheridan, so that he can still have his hands on the program because he’s a really good coach that is up and coming as well.”