The Alabama Crimson Tide has looked much improved during the 2025 season, but the mastermind behind the upgraded play-calling might not be trying to work under Kalen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa for long.
ESPN's Eli Lederman, Max Olson, and Adam Rittenberg listed first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb as a candidate for the recently vacated Cal Golden Bears head coaching job opened up by Justin Wilcox's firing.
"His next stop likely will take him to a head coaching role. The only question is, where? Grubb has been alongside Kalen DeBoer at several spots, including Washington, where he served as offensive coordinator in 2023 when the Huskies reached the national title game. He then spent 2024 as Seattle Seahawks OC before rejoining DeBoer in Alabama. Grubb, 49, also worked with DeBoer for part of a five-year run at Fresno State. He's familiar with the area and would bring an exciting and innovative offense to Berkeley," ESPN's staff wrote.
Grubb wasn't sold on Alabama when he first committed to work under DeBoer upon his hiring in 2024. Grubb later returned to Seattle, where he and DeBoer had worked for the Washington Huskies, and took the same job with the Seahawks. Unfortunately, Grubb only lasted one year under Mike McDonald.
It's possible that Grubb explores a move back out to the West Coast following the 2025 season. The Golden Bears are a team that has the resources to be at least a mid-tier team in the ACC, but needs the right leader in charge.
Grubb is a good X's and O's guy who may have to share play-calling duties with Cal's current offensive coordinator, Bryan Harsin. It's possible the Golden Bears can only keep quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele if Harsin is retained on staff.
If he can handle that, Grubb could go from "Husky Harsin" to the real thing in northern California.
In that case, DeBoer and Nick Sheridan would be back to the drawing board trying to make sure the offense looks more like the 2025 version and less like the 2024 squad.