Alabama is finalizing a deal with former Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien to be Crimson Tide’s next offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN.
O’Brien was at the Alabama football complex on Wednesday. He also spent time with the team last week, ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
Saban was asked about O’Brien on Wednesday at a Zoom press conference ahead of the announcement of the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year award, which Saban won on Wednesday night.
Saban praised O’Brien’s work and called him an excellent coach, and although Saban did not officially announce O’Brien as Alabama’s new offensive coordinator, he said O’Brien “would do a great job with our players here” .
Saban added: “I have always tried to have the best knowledge and experience I can for our players and their development, and I certainly think [O’Brien] can contribute to this in a very positive way. “
O’Brien, who also served as general manager of Texans last year, was sacked four games in the 2020 season. This after taking Texans to appearances in the playoffs in four of his first six seasons in Houston.
O’Brien, 51, replaces Steve Sarkisian, who left Alabama to take over as coach in Texas.
Although his most recent coaching experience was in the NFL, O’Brien also has a long history as a coach in college. He was the Penn State coach in 2012-13, helping to rebuild the program following the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the NCAA sanctions that followed. O’Brien was Duke’s offensive coordinator in 2005-06 and Georgia Tech’s offensive coordinator in 2001-02.
Similar to Saban, O’Brien also has strong ties to Bill Belichick and trained under Belichick with the New England Patriots for five seasons from 2007 to 2011, the last season as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator.
O’Brien will be the seventh offensive coordinator other than Saban, returning to Jim McElwain, who left after the 2011 season to take over as Colorado State coach.
Saban also has a position on the offensive line to fill on his team, as Kyle Flood is going with Sarkisian to Texas to be the offensive / technical coordinator of the Longhorns offensive line, sources confirmed ESPN.