Alabama's offensive coordinator was fired by the Seattle Seahawks. Now that team is headed to the Super Bowl.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb observe warmups before the home opener against Louisiana Monroe at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sep.
6, 2025. The Seattle Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb last season. One year later, the Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl.I hate piling on Alabama’s Grubb, but it’s not a great look for the guy who called that infamous Wildcat shovel pass on fourth-and-1 from the 35-yard line in the Rose Bowl. Anyone else might have been fired for that gaffe alone, but Grubb still has his job in Tuscaloosa and now Alabama can’t land a single decent running back out of the transfer portal.Seattle’s punishing attack this season only underscores the obvious. It’s time for Grubb to consider changing his approach. Is Grubb’s offense the problem at Alabama? Sure seems that way after watching the Crimson Tide’s running game finish the 2025 season ranked second-to-last in the SEC. Seattle ranked 28th in rushing with Grubb, who was fired by coach Mike Macdonald less than 24 hours after the Seahawks’ 2024 season was over. Macdonald didn’t like the direction of Seattle’s offense under Grubb. It lacked toughness, and one of the main sticking points was short-yardage running plays.And now that Wildcat shovel pass will haunt my dreams for seven long months of the offseason. With Seattle now one win away from winning the Super Bowl, it’s worth asking the question: Did Grubb learn nothing from his mistakes in the NFL? Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer reflexively hired old-buddy Grubb after he was fired by Macdonald. Will it be DeBoer’s fatal mistake during his tenure with the Tide? Alabama’s coach goes into the 2026 season squarely on the hot seat. If the running game doesn’t improve, then his fate is sealed.The knock on Grubb in Seattle was that his offense relied too heavily on the passing game. That made it too predictable in the second half of the 2024 season.Alabama couldn’t run the ball last season. The blame goes to DeBoer and Grubb, his longtime offensive coordinator. DeBoer and Grubb built their careers together. They dominated Division II football while at Sioux Falls. Then came Fresno State and Washington. When DeBoer left for Alabama, the plan was for Grubb to join him. Then the Seahawks came calling. Grubb decided to stay in Washington and take his offense to the NFL. DeBoer remained loyal to Grubb after he was fired, but clearly there were signs that his offense was getting a little stale.It shouldn’t be too hard to develop a running game at Alabama. The Tide’s dynasties were built on running the ball. Even during the Tide’s string of future NFL quarterbacks, it was the running game that anchored everything.Hollywood Smothers was committed to Alabama before flipping to Texas. Miami’s Girard Pringle, Jr., would rather be a backup for the Canes than start for the Tide. Those misses are on DeBoer and Grubb, who are quickly building a reputation for chasing away good running backs. Alabama’s top returning back is junior Daniel Hill. He only rushed for 284 yards last season. Hill has his strengths, but he’s not a feature back. What’s the plan? DeBoer recently fired offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic. Hopefully it’s a sign that things are about to change.Grubb’s job this spring is to reinvent Alabama’s offense for players Kevin Riley, AK Dear and incoming freshman running back EJ Crowell.Maybe Alabama’s offensive coordinator should study how the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl after he was fired.Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything for the reader mailbag. Joseph is the lead sports columnist for AL.com and author of the highly controversial book "We Want Bama." SEC provocateur and expert in the field game management, Joseph's columns have been voted the best in...
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