Alabama Quarterback Ty Simpson's Resurgent Path to Heisman Contention

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On January 10, 2024, a pivotal moment unfolded for the University of Alabama football program and its then-backup quarterback, Ty Simpson. Two days after Simpson confirmed his decision to remain with the Crimson Tide, head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, concluding a monumental 17-year tenure that yielded six national championships. Despite his departure, Saban delivered one final, pointed message to Simpson while clearing out his office, a moment Simpson vividly recalls.

For two preceding seasons, Simpson had found himself behind star quarterbacks Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe on the depth chart. During this period, Saban frequently cautioned Simpson against an excessive focus on game outcomes and the performances of others, urging him instead to concentrate on personal improvement. Simpson initially found the advice perplexing. "To be honest with you, it kind of pissed me off because I didn’t think it made any sense," Simpson stated, reflecting on his early frustration. "I thought he just wanted me out of his office." Yet, this theme of self-focus formed the core of Saban’s parting counsel. "He was brutally honest," Simpson recounted. "He was like, ‘You’re such a good kid. I’m a huge fan and love you, but you have to take that next step. You can’t be doing this.’"

This transformation, from a player struggling for field time to one now possessing the third-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy and projected as a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has been a challenging and complex journey. Following a significant upset loss to Florida State in the season opener, the No. 4 Crimson Tide (8-1, 6-0 SEC) have secured eight consecutive victories. Their trajectory will be further tested in Saturday’s SEC showdown against No. 12 Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2) at Bryant-Denny Stadium, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Simpson credits the initial defeat as a catalyst. "I think that if we don’t lose that first game, we wouldn’t be where we are, to be honest with you," Simpson said. "I think the first game made us self-reflect and made us understand, like, ‘All right, what are we going to do now?’"

Early Expectations and Internal Struggles

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Upon Ty Simpson’s signing with Alabama, there was a widespread belief within the program that he was the designated successor to Bryce Young, who was eventually selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Simpson’s credentials were impressive: he was rated as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2022 by ESPN’s recruiting rankings. His senior year at Westview High saw him named Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, throwing for 2,827 yards and 41 touchdowns while leading his team to a Class 2A state championship. Furthermore, football was deeply ingrained in his family, with his father, Jason, entering his 20th season as the head coach of FCS program Tennessee-Martin.

However, Simpson’s initial two seasons in Tuscaloosa were marked by self-imposed obstacles. After redshirting as a freshman, he was unable to surpass Jalen Milroe for the starting quarterback position, attempting merely 20 passes across six games during Saban’s final season in 2023. Saban, now an analyst for ESPN, attributed Simpson’s struggles to excessive self-criticism. "He was wound so tight and was always looking at how well he did compared to how well somebody else did," Saban explained. "It was almost like a guy in competition to see who sells the most cars. They’re scurrying around worrying about what the other guys are doing, not totally focused on what they’re doing. If he made a bad play, he’d get totally frustrated about it and make another bad play."

A Period of Uncertainty and a Defining Decision

The landscape shifted dramatically with Saban’s sudden retirement. Two days later, Washington’s Kalen DeBoer was appointed as the new head coach. Simpson’s initial encounter with DeBoer was brief and, by his account, underwhelming. "I just introduced myself, and he kind of blew me off," Simpson recalled. "He was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll meet everybody later.’" Observing DeBoer’s immediate focus on Milroe, Simpson began to question his decision to remain at Alabama. His concerns intensified when Washington quarterback Austin Mack announced his transfer to Alabama, signaling further competition. This prompted Simpson to request a meeting with DeBoer to clarify his standing within the new coaching staff. At the time, Alabama’s quarterback room also included Julian Sayin, the No. 2 dual-threat passer in the Class of 2024, who would later transfer to Ohio State nine days after DeBoer’s hiring.

"I asked for a meeting with him because I was contemplating whether I was wanted here," Simpson elaborated. "They were bringing Austin in. I knew Jalen was the starter. I just didn’t know my place." Behind the scenes, Simpson’s family was already exploring alternative options. His mother, Julie, had been in Tuscaloosa assisting him with moving when Saban announced his retirement, and she extended her stay to help navigate her son’s future. Following the unpromising introduction to DeBoer, the family actively considered a transfer to SEC rival Georgia. Julie Simpson was even searching for housing for him in Athens.

Jason Simpson engaged in constructive conversations with Alabama co-offensive coordinators Nick Sheridan and Ryan Grubb (who would depart for the Seattle Seahawks the following month). However, no guarantees of playing time could be offered, given that Milroe, who had led the Crimson Tide to a 12-2 record and a College Football Playoff appearance, was returning. "The timing was so fast," Jason Simpson stated. "As his dad, I couldn’t tell him what was the right thing to do."

Ultimately, Simpson’s meeting with DeBoer, who had just guided Washington to an undefeated regular season and a CFP National Championship appearance, helped alleviate his concerns. Furthermore, transferring to Georgia likely meant sitting behind returning starter Carson Beck. Faced with the prospect of being a backup elsewhere, Simpson opted to remain in a familiar environment with teammates he valued. "He was so prayerful about going to Alabama and knew that was where the Lord was leading him," Julie Simpson explained. "He was like, ‘I know this is where he wanted me to be, so I’m not leaving. I’m going to stick it out and see what this will do.’"

The Genesis of Drive and the Perils of Perfectionism

Julie Simpson recognized her son’s exceptional drive from an early age. At four, his soccer coach was constantly peppered with questions about rules and responsibilities. His passion for collecting sports cards evolved into an obsession, requiring his mother to drive him extensively in search of new packs. While his parents made him wait a year before playing tackle football, Ty’s commitment was immediate. With Jason occupied coaching UT Martin, Julie meticulously videotaped Ty’s practices and games. These recordings were then reviewed by father and son, with Jason offering critiques on mechanics, missed receivers, and offensive line adjustments, starting when Ty was just in fourth grade.

"He would go back to his practices and he would literally tell his teammates and his friends and they’d talk about it in school," Julie said. "Thankfully, he had some sweet coaches. They’d ask Ty about what his dad said, and he would tell them. That’s kind of where he started really becoming obsessed with football even more than he already was." Post-UT Martin games, Julie would analyze stat sheets during her husband’s news conferences. Once Ty was old enough, he received his own box score. To this day, he carries one to postgame interviews at Alabama, dissecting the offense’s performance. "I laugh because as many Coach Saban-isms as he has — and you can get a lot in 2½ years — if you listen to his dad in any of his press conferences, Ty sounds just like him," Julie noted.

Growing up in Tennessee, Ty developed an intense interest in duck hunting, which led to another obsession: crafting his own duck calls. The pursuit of perfection meant countless hours of practice, often requiring his mother to wear headphones indoors. His focus could be singular. In high school, a car accident that totaled another vehicle and badly damaged his truck left Ty unharmed, a fact he attributed to his preoccupation. "I was blowing my duck calls," Ty told her. "I didn’t hear it."

This relentless drive for perfection, however, initially hindered his collegiate career. As a coach’s son, Simpson possessed a deep understanding of X’s and O’s, having drawn defenses and route trees with UT Martin coaches since age 10. Through high school, he was tutored by future bright offensive minds, including Georgia Tech offensive line coach Geep Wade, Panthers quarterbacks coach Will Harriger, Nebraska offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, and Bengals pass game coordinator Justin Rascati. Despite this intricate knowledge, Jason Simpson urged his son to trust his instincts. "He is a perfectionist when it comes to throwing and he’s very infatuated with the footwork and the finish and how the ball is supposed to spin correctly and stuff," Jason said. "Now I think he’s kind of learned to just complete the pass, man, and move on. We’ll fix that in the offseason."

His early frustrations at Alabama peaked during a 2023 spring scrimmage when an incorrect read on a goal-line play drew a sharp rebuke from then-offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. The incident left Simpson in tears, questioning his future at Alabama. "Man, where are you with your faith?" Jason Simpson asked his son. "Because you shouldn’t be having that kind of anxiety. You’ve got to be able to let it go. You can’t just sit there and replay every play all the time in your head when you make a mistake." Saban characterized the beginning of Ty’s college career as a "cycle of negative spiraling." "He was just focusing on all the wrong stuff," Saban stated. "He’s a great kid — you’re not going to find a better kid. But sometimes the great kids are wired and driven to perfection, which can be a curse or a blessing depending on how you apply it to yourself." Jason observed that constant questions about his playing time compounded the pressure. "That gets on anybody," Jason said. "I just think over a period of time, he learned how to handle that better. His faith played a big part in lifting that off of him, realizing that he has a lot of blessings and he’s not only identified if he’s the starting quarterback at Alabama."

The Breakthrough and a Season of Redemption

Last season, during Alabama’s 9-4 campaign, Simpson’s playing time remained limited, with 25 pass attempts over six games. Yet, in practice, he consistently demonstrated his readiness to DeBoer and his staff. With Milroe’s declaration for the NFL Draft, Simpson entered the offseason quarterback competition against Mack and highly-regarded freshman Keelon Russell. Crucially, Simpson was no longer battling himself. "One day, it just kind of clicked," he explained. "I figured out I need to worry about myself and kind of just play. I understood what [Saban] meant about being outcome-oriented. I quit worrying about what will so-and-so think about me or what will Coach Saban say about me."

Simpson finally took the field as Alabama’s starting quarterback in the August 30 season opener against Florida State. His debut was challenging, as he completed 23 of 43 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the Crimson Tide’s 31-17 loss to a team that finished the 2023 season 2-10. He was sacked three times, and the offense struggled to find answers. DeBoer faced immediate scrutiny from Alabama’s fanbase, with Simpson also receiving significant criticism. His father even received an email from a disgruntled fan labeling his son the "worst quarterback in Alabama history." "It was pretty dark, I’m going to be honest with you," Ty confessed. "Just because of all the hard work, all the waiting, and the buildup. I’d been waiting so long for this. I finally got my chance in a crazy environment with a good team. It was all that I asked for, right? And it all just crumbled in my hands."

Recognizing his struggle, Julie Simpson traveled to Tuscaloosa, spending the week with her son. She brought his goldendoodle, Rip, cooked his favorite meals, and provided "unconditional love." Jason offered an honest assessment of his performance, stating, "Well, you know, you didn’t play great. With the way y’all’s offense is built, whoever plays quarterback in that system has to play at a high level." DeBoer and Grubb, who returned to Alabama this season, delivered a similar message: Simpson needed to elevate his play for the Tide’s offense to succeed. DeBoer opened the quarterback competition in practice the following week, allowing Mack snaps with the first-team offense. Instead of dwelling on past errors, Simpson responded with renewed determination. "It probably blindsided him for a second, but he responded in a great way all week long and produced exceptionally well on that Saturday," DeBoer commented. "It was what we needed him to do. I’m really proud of him because it can go one of two ways: Guys can kind of be like, ‘Whoa, they just don’t believe in me.’ You can feel sorry for yourself, or you can bow up and go compete and go get better."

Simpson’s response was immediate and emphatic. In Alabama’s 73-0 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on September 6, he completed all 17 of his pass attempts for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Three weeks later, he delivered a commanding performance against then-No. 5 Georgia, throwing for 276 yards with three touchdowns (one rushing) in a 24-21 win that ended the Bulldogs’ 33-game home winning streak. "He had the ability and the talent," Saban observed. "He got all tangled up in himself psychologically to where he couldn’t function very well. He’s learned how to not do that. I think he learned and listened, and he wanted to be good. He’s really good at self-assessing, but now he self-assesses in a positive way, not in a way that frustrates him."

Today, Simpson maintains a critical approach when reviewing stat sheets. If the Crimson Tide held possession for 38 minutes and scored only 27 points, he acknowledges missed opportunities for touchdowns. If he was sacked four times, he recognizes the need to release the ball quicker. However, he now also celebrates successes, such as completing a fourth-down rollout pass to tailback Jam Miller or checking down to Germie Bernard under pressure. Through nine games, Simpson has completed 66.9% of his attempts for 2,461 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only one interception. "You knew he was capable," DeBoer stated. "Everyone’s confident in him. As he continues to step up and be vocal, it’s genuine. Because he works hard, the team really responds and takes it in a positive way when he’s critical of himself and critical of us as an offense or as a team."

The Simpson family calendar this fall features a pair of ambitious goals. 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 one interception, including a state-record 620 yards and eight touchdowns in a single game. Programs including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miami, and Vanderbilt have already extended scholarship offers to Graham, a Class of 2028 prospect. This season, the Chargers hold a 10-0 record and are considered strong contenders for the Class 3A state title. The state championship game is scheduled for Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, the day before the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, creating the potential for a memorable December doubleheader for the Simpson family.