Brian Daboll to the Bills means Nick Saban’s replacing another coordinator, so here are fun ideas
Lane Train! Sark! Jim McElwain!
For the second year in a row, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has to replace his offensive coordinator. On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills announced the hiring of Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator, which means Alabama needs a new OC.
We have hired Brian Daboll as our Offensive Coordinator.
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 14, 2018
More about Daboll's coaching career: https://t.co/pcyLee9mS4 pic.twitter.com/TnBhVsnF8g
Naturally, Twitter was full of good ideas on who Saban should call to replace him. How bout we just bring back Lane Kiffin, why not?
Saban might be giving you a call soon....
— chad lacy (@LacyChad) January 14, 2018
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 14, 2018
Speaking of Lane, he was on fire on Twitter when the Daboll news broke.
Ppl really don’t ENJOY working with Saban ... am I right, @Lane_Kiffin https://t.co/aHYGkx1Rj8
— The Many Tweets GOD (@ChanceWKGN) January 14, 2018
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 14, 2018
Hey @Lane_Kiffin you free for another ring??? #COMEBACK
— Casey Smeraglia (@CaseySmeraglia) January 14, 2018
#notac..... https://t.co/ku5TBfmLxZ
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 14, 2018
He hilariously retweeted this too:
Brian Daboll after one season with Nick Saban ... @Lane_Kiffin #RTR pic.twitter.com/GySLYh9tXP
— Michael Hurcomb (@CBSHurc) January 14, 2018
ESPN’s Alex Scarborough brings up the idea of promoting Tide QBs coach Mike Locksley, but there’s an interesting catch here:
It would buck a trend under Nick Saban at Alabama of not promoting from within. Jim McElwain, Doug Nussmeier, Lane Kiffin and Daboll were all outside hires. The lone exception was Steve Sarkisian, who lasted all of one game after being promoted from analyst to OC when Kiffin left.
How about that guy who humped that sh — I mean, former Florida head coach Jim McElwain?
@38Godfrey only one guy to replace Daboll now pic.twitter.com/6vzUC1Q1wI
— Michael Settle (@settlemlCFB) January 14, 2018
Doug Nussmeier, McElwain’s QBs coach at Florida, may be an intriguing option, too.
Or, how about bringing back Steve Sarkisian, who just coached the Falcons’ offense to a 15-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles?! (Please please take him back Saban, signed Atlanta Falcons fan).
I’m completely kidding here but hey, Mike Shula is available, just saying! Matt Canada, LSU’s old OC, is on the market too.
Hell, an Air Raid coordinator from the Hal Mumme coaching tree might be fun with Tua Tagovailoa throwing the ball! This was an interesting tidbit, too:
Most intriguing rumor I heard all season was if Daboll left Alabama, Nick Saban was extremely intrigued with Kliff Kingsbury and he would be near the top of his list if TTU fired him. Not happening now, but that would have made a ton of sense.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) January 14, 2018
More fun ideas, from other SB Nation staffers!
- Larry David!
- Eric Stephen: Tom Cable.
- Harry Lyles Jr.: Todd Haley lol.
Here’s Roll Bama Roll on Daboll’s departure:
Alabama’s offense struggled at times this season, with fans engaging in sometimes heated debate over the cause between scheme and quarterback play. Daboll was somewhat vindicated when his offense rolled up 250+ yards and 20 points in the second half of the national title game after phenom Tua Tagovailoa took the reins.
In any event this is certainly a promotion for Brian, and the next offensive coordinator will be Alabama’s fourth in the last three seasons. The good news is that there should be no shortage of offensive minds lining up considering the players currently on campus.
As far as Daboll to Buffalo goes, he’s got ties to the state of New York, which makes this an easy decision. Buffalo Rumblings has more:
Daboll has a history with head coach Sean McDermott, as both men were with the William and Mary football program at the same time. McDermott was a safety with the team in 1997, and Daboll was a restricted earnings coach with the school.
A Western New York native, Daboll was born in Ontario, Canada, and he attended St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York. He played college football at the University of Rochester.
We’ll see who Saban ends up replacing him with. Have any other fun ideas? Drop em in the comments, or tweet at us at @SBNationCFB!

