Kalen DeBoer Buyout: How Much Would Alabama Need to Pay to Fire Their Football Coach?

Alabama football fans are not used to disappointment. With a history of dominance under Nick Saban, anything less than perfection is met with frustration. That frustration has boiled over in 2024, as head coach Kalen DeBoer is already facing scrutiny after losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee. These defeats have sparked heated debates about DeBoer’s fit for the program, with some fans even calling for his dismissal. But, considering his massive contract and buyout, how much would Alabama have to pay to make that happen?

The Losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee

The loss to Vanderbilt, a team Alabama hadn’t fallen to since 1984, was one of the most shocking college football upsets in recent times. Alabama’s defense allowed 40 points and over 400 yards of total offense, and the team’s performance left fans questioning DeBoer’s leadership. This defeat was soon followed by another loss, this time to Tennessee, marking the first time since 2007 that Alabama had lost two games by early October​.

The manner of these losses, particularly the defensive breakdowns and miscommunications, fueled the fans’ ire. In particular, the loss to Vanderbilt saw Alabama’s defense allow the Commodores to control the game for over 42 minutes, a shocking statistic for a team that had prided itself on dominating the trenches​.

With that in mind, is it any surprise Bama fans used to success are now calling for the firing of their new head coach?

I’m so humiliated that Alabama just faked an injury. Fire the entire coaching staff.

— Fire Kalen DeBoer (@dragonzordgo) October 19, 2024

Kalen DeBoer Contract: Salary Breakdown

DeBoer’s contract with Alabama is an eight-year, $87 million deal, structured to pay him an escalating salary over the course of his tenure. Here’s the breakdown of his salary per year:

• 2024: $10 million
• 2025: $10.25 million
• 2026: $10.5 million
• 2027: $10.75 million
• 2028: $11 million
• 2029: $11.25 million
• 2030: $11.5 million
• 2031: $11.75 million

Kalen DeBoer Incentives

In addition to his base salary, DeBoer has the potential to earn substantial bonuses based on Alabama’s success on the field. His incentives include:

• $75,000 for an SEC Championship Game appearance
• $125,000 for winning the SEC Championship
• $125,000 for making the College Football Playoff (CFP)
• $250,000 for advancing to the CFP quarterfinals
• $400,000 for advancing to the CFP semifinals
• $600,000 for making the national championship game
• $875,000 for winning the national championship

Kalen DeBoer Buyout: How Much Would Alabama Owe?

If Alabama were to part ways with DeBoer, they would have to pay a 90% buyout of the remaining value of his contract. Here’s what that would look like if DeBoer were fired in any given year:

• If fired in 2024: Alabama would owe $78.3 million
• If fired in 2025: Alabama would owe $69.3 million
• If fired in 2026: Alabama would owe $60.075 million
• If fired in 2027: Alabama would owe $50.625 million
• If fired in 2028: Alabama would owe $40.95 million
• If fired in 2029: Alabama would owe $31.05 million
• If fired in 2030: Alabama would owe $21.025 million
• If fired in 2031: Alabama would owe $10.575 million

The High Cost of Moving On

Given these figures, firing DeBoer early in his contract would be extremely costly for Alabama. Paying $78.3 million after just one season would be a massive financial burden for any program, even one with Alabama’s resources. However, if DeBoer continues to struggle and fails to meet expectations, the calls for his dismissal could grow louder.

As it stands, Alabama must weigh the high financial cost of moving on from DeBoer against the potential long-term damage of continuing down a path of underperformance.