Alabama football pursued Ryan Grubb twice before finally landing him as offensive coordinator. Both previous times, Grubb turned down the Crimson Tide, opting to stay at Washington instead.
Speaking to reporters in Tuscaloosa, Grubb addressed why he initially declined Alabama’s offers. Even before Kalen DeBoer took over as head coach, Nick Saban had tried to bring Grubb on board before the 2023 season. At the time, Grubb saw Washington’s potential for a championship run and chose to remain with DeBoer and the Huskies.
“That was really tough,” Grubb admitted. “I have great respect for Coach Saban, but I had strong ties to the Washington locker room. With players like Mike Penix, Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Troy Fautanu all headed to the NFL, I knew we had a special season ahead. Leaving them then would have been difficult.”
Washington did indeed make it to the national championship game, falling to Michigan after the Wolverines ended Saban’s career in the Rose Bowl. When Saban retired, DeBoer took over at Alabama, and Grubb initially followed him. However, Grubb quickly returned to Seattle, accepting an offensive coordinator role with the NFL’s Seahawks. He later explained that staying in the same city played a role in his decision, though it wasn’t the only factor.
After a year with the Seahawks, Grubb was let go at season’s end, while Alabama’s offense struggled with inconsistency in 2024. When the opportunity to join the Crimson Tide arose once more, Grubb finally accepted.
“Third time’s the charm,” he said. “A lot of the foundation is already in place here, and I feel I can add to it rather than start from scratch. There’s a great opportunity for success.”
Alabama began spring practice this week, with the A-Day game set for April 12 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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