Jalen Milroe explains using Bill O'Brien as motivation

Leading into the Rose Bowl against Michigan, Jalen Milroe dropped an interesting nugget surrounding his former offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien. He apparently wanted to move Milroe out of the quarterback room and use him as a skill position player. Bryce Young was the starter at the time but Milroe did step in as the backup when injuries became a problem in 2022.

“All my life, even when I was in college,” Milroe said in late December. “My own offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien told me I shouldn’t play quarterback. So there’s a lot of things I can have motivation on, and that’s something I have motivation on.”

Of course, Milroe remained a quarterback and became Alabama‘s starter this past season. It was a rocky start but Milroe eventually figured things out with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. As a result, another SEC Championship and College Football Playoff appearance came back to Tuscaloosa.

Milroe has used O’Brien’s words as motivation throughout the entire process, with the quarterback explaining as such back in his hometown of Houston. O’Brien is a well-known coach in the Space City due to his time with the Texans.

“The biggest thing, for me, is that I try to learn and grow as much as possible,” Milroe said. “Never dwell on any situation but you can use anything as motivation. You also got to acknowledge what’s the thing that you learned through your process.

“I learned a lot of things with Coach O’Brien being our offensive coordinator with his knowledge of the game. With him being a head coach in college and also in the NFL. So, I don’t take that lightly being coached by him. But everything is motivation. We try to use it to fuel you in your journey.”

O’Brien left Tuscaloosa after one season and returned to the NFL with the New England Patriots. However, he is now back in college football and will serve as Ohio State‘s offensive coordinator under Ryan Day. His quarterback in Columbus is expected to be Will Howard after the Buckeyes snagged him from the transfer portal.

Maybe there will be the possibility of direct revenge for Milroe, with Alabama and Ohio State both being serious candidates to make the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

Until then, Milroe will continue to use O’Brien as motivation from afar. A huge season is ahead of him and under a new coaching staff, with Kalen DeBoer taking over. Milroe will want to continue his status as a leader while also improving his game on the field.