TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On January 10, 2024, just two days after backup quarterback Ty Simpson opted to stay at Alabama instead of transferring, head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, concluding a remarkable 17-year tenure that included six national championships. Although Saban was leaving, he managed to deliver one last stern message to Simpson while clearing out his office. Over the past two seasons, as Simpson watched starters Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe lead the team, Saban had repeatedly cautioned him about focusing too much on outcomes and comparing himself to others instead of concentrating on his own development. “To be honest, it kind of frustrated me because I thought it was illogical,” Simpson recalled. “I thought he just wanted me out of his office.” This was Saban”s final message to Simpson. “He was painfully honest,” Simpson noted. “He said, “You”re a great kid. I”m a big fan and I care about you, but you need to elevate your game. You can”t keep doing this.”
Simpson”s rise from a benchwarmer to a player with the third-best odds for the Heisman Trophy and a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft was not without challenges. After a surprising loss to Florida State in the season opener, the No. 4 Crimson Tide (8-1, 6-0 SEC) have rebounded to win eight consecutive games, heading into a significant SEC matchup against No. 12 Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2) at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. “Honestly, if we hadn”t lost that first game, I don”t think we would be where we are,” Simpson said. “That loss forced us to reflect and figure out our next steps.”
When Alabama secured Simpson”s commitment, it was widely anticipated within the program that he would eventually step in for Young, who was selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 NFL Draft. Simpson came to Alabama as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2022, having earned the title of Tennessee”s Gatorade Player of the Year after throwing for 2,827 yards and 41 touchdowns, leading Westview High to a Class 2A state championship. Growing up, football was in his blood, with his father, Jason, serving as head coach at FCS program Tennessee-Martin for two decades. However, Simpson”s first two seasons at Alabama were marked by frustration. After redshirting his freshman year, he struggled to claim the starting QB position from Milroe, attempting only 20 passes in six games during Saban”s final season. Saban observed that Simpson”s self-criticism hindered his progress. “He was so tense and constantly comparing his performance to others”,” Saban explained. “It was as if he was in a competition to see who could sell the most cars, worrying about what others were doing instead of focusing on himself. A single bad play would frustrate him, leading to another mistake.”
Following Saban”s unexpected retirement, Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer from Washington, but Simpson”s initial interaction with his new coach was less than promising. “It was basically just a quick handshake,” Simpson recalled. “I introduced myself, and he seemed to brush me off, saying, “We”ll meet everyone later.”” Watching DeBoer interact more with Milroe left Simpson questioning his decision to stay at Alabama. When Washington quarterback Austin Mack announced his transfer to join DeBoer, Simpson requested a meeting to clarify his standing with the new coaching staff. Alabama”s quarterback room also included Julian Sayin, the No. 2 dual-threat passer in the Class of 2024, who transferred to Ohio State shortly after DeBoer was hired. “I wanted to know where I stood,” Simpson said. “With Austin coming in and Jalen being the starter, I was unsure of my place.”
Amid private discussions about potentially transferring if he was not valued at Alabama, Simpson”s mother, Julie, was in town helping him move when Saban announced his departure. She remained for about a week to support her son as he contemplated his future. “They advised me not to attend the first two days of classes in case I wanted to transfer,” Simpson said. The plan was for him to move to SEC rival Georgia if he decided to leave. His mother even began searching for accommodations in Athens. Jason Simpson reached out to Alabama”s co-offensive coordinators Nick Sheridan and Ryan Grubb, who had productive conversations with him. However, there were no guarantees that Ty would secure playtime, as Milroe had led the Crimson Tide to a solid record and a College Football Playoff appearance. “Everything unfolded so quickly,” Jason Simpson reflected. “As a father, I couldn”t guide him on what was the right decision.”
Ultimately, Ty”s worries were alleviated after meeting with DeBoer, who had recently led Washington to an undefeated regular season. The Huskies were defeated by Michigan in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Additionally, transferring to Georgia likely would have meant sitting behind returning starter Carson Beck. If Ty had to be a backup again, he reasoned, it made sense to remain at a place where he felt comfortable with his teammates. “He had faith that Alabama was where he was meant to be,” Julie Simpson remarked. “He said, “I know this is where I am supposed to be, so I”m not leaving. I”m going to persevere and see how this plays out.”
From a young age, Julie recognized her son”s exceptional drive. When Ty was four, she enrolled him in soccer to channel his energy. During the early practices, he constantly questioned his coach about the rules and his role in the game. His passion for sports cards evolved into an obsession, leading Julie to drive him around town in search of packs. Despite making him wait a year to sign up for tackle football, once he started playing, he was all in. With Jason coaching at UT Martin, Julie filmed Ty”s practices and games, delivering the footage for Jason to review with their son. At just ten years old, Ty was already drawing defenses and route trees with the coaches at UT Martin. “He would go back to his practices and discuss what his dad had told him with his teammates,” Julie shared. “Thankfully, he had great coaches who would ask him about his father”s advice.”
As Ty matured, he became increasingly critical of his performance, a trait that sometimes hindered him during his early years at Alabama. Jason Simpson encouraged his son to trust his instincts instead of getting caught up in perfectionism. “He is a perfectionist when it comes to throwing, focused on footwork and the mechanics of the throw,” Jason noted. “Now, he has learned to focus on just completing the pass and moving on.” Ty”s frustration over limited playing time peaked during a spring scrimmage in 2023 when he misread a goal-line play. Then-offensive coordinator Tommy Rees reprimanded him, leaving Ty in tears and doubting his future at Alabama. “Where is your faith?” Jason asked. “You can”t let anxiety take over. You need to let go of mistakes and not replay them constantly in your mind.”
Saban described Ty”s early college experience as a “cycle of negative spiraling.” “He was concentrating on all the wrong things,” Saban explained. “He”s an excellent kid, but sometimes kids driven to perfection can struggle with that mindset.” Jason observed that every time Ty returned home, he faced questions about his future on the field. “That kind of pressure can weigh anyone down,” Jason said. “Over time, Ty learned to manage it better, and his faith played a significant role in helping him realize his many blessings beyond just being the starting quarterback.”
During a challenging 9-4 season for Alabama last year, Ty again saw limited action, throwing 25 passes across six games. However, in practice, he demonstrated to DeBoer and his staff that he was ready to take charge. With Milroe declaring for the NFL Draft, Ty was poised to compete against Mack and freshman Keelon Russell for the starting position this offseason. Crucially, Ty had shifted his focus away from self-doubt. “One day, it just clicked,” he explained. “I realized I needed to concentrate on my own game. I stopped worrying about others” opinions and learned to focus on my performance.”
In Alabama”s season opener against Florida State on August 30, Simpson finally got his chance as the starter. Unfortunately, his debut was disastrous, completing 23 of 43 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns while suffering three sacks in a surprising 31-17 defeat. While DeBoer faced backlash from Alabama fans, Simpson was not far behind on the list of scapegoats. His father even received a negative email labeling Ty as “the worst quarterback in Alabama history.” “It was a dark time for me,” Ty admitted. “With all the effort I had put in and the anticipation, I had been waiting for this moment. It crumbled before my eyes.”
Sensing her son”s distress, Julie drove to Tuscaloosa to provide support. She brought along his goldendoodle, Rip, named after a character from “Yellowstone,” and cooked his favorite meals, offering him “unconditional love.” Jason provided a straightforward assessment of Ty”s performance. When Ty asked for his father”s thoughts on the game, Jason replied, “Well, you didn”t play great. In our system, the quarterback must perform at a high level.” DeBoer and Grubb echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Ty needed to improve for the offense to function effectively. The following week, DeBoer opened the quarterback competition in practice, allowing Mack to take snaps with the first team. Instead of succumbing to negativity, Simpson approached practice with determination. “It may have taken him by surprise initially, but he responded impressively throughout the week and excelled during the game,” DeBoer remarked. “I”m proud of him because athletes can either feel sorry for themselves or rise to the challenge and improve.”
In a dominant 73-0 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on September 6, Simpson completed all 17 of his passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Three weeks later, he threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns, including one rushing, in a thrilling 24-21 win at then-No. 5 Georgia, ending the Bulldogs” 33-game home winning streak. “He always had the talent,” Saban stated. “He just became mentally tangled, which hindered his performance. He has learned to navigate that now. He has developed a better understanding of self-assessment, which is now constructive instead of frustrating.”
When examining a stat sheet today, Simpson remains critical of himself. If the Crimson Tide possesses the ball for 38 minutes and scores 27 points, he will note that they likely left points on the field. If he takes four sacks, he recognizes he should have released the ball earlier. Yet he also acknowledges the positives, like completing a crucial pass to tailback Jam Miller on a fourth-down rollout. Through nine games, Simpson has completed 66.9% of his passes for 2,461 yards, with 21 touchdowns and just one interception. “We always knew he had the potential,” DeBoer stated. “The team has confidence in him. As he continues to step up and be vocal, it”s genuine, and the team responds positively to his self-criticism and critiques of our offense.”
On the family calendar this fall, two significant goals are written. Ty”s younger brother, Graham, has followed in his footsteps as the starting quarterback at Westview High. Last season, Graham threw for 4,135 yards with 57 touchdowns and only one interception, setting a state record with 620 yards and eight touchdowns in a single game. Programs such as Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miami, and Vanderbilt have already extended scholarship offers to Graham, who is in the Class of 2028. This season, the Chargers are undefeated and among the favorites for the Class 3A state title. The championship game is scheduled at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, just a day before the SEC championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Simpsons hope to experience a doubleheader during the first weekend of December.
