New Alabama defensive coordinator candidate has a touch of Iron-y

Alabama’s new defensive coordinator target is both a friendly face and a familiar foe.

After winning so many Iron Bowls, Nick Saban could look to bring in some Steele to the Alabama equation.

Unlike iron, steel does not rust. Although Kevin Steele is in his mid-60s, the Johnny Cash of college defensive coordinators has been everywhere, man. With it resembling a ring of fire down there in Coral Gables, Steele is a potential candidate to leave fellow Saban disciple Mario Cristobal in the dust. It has gone to hell in a hand basket at The U, so Steele may go to work for Saban a third time.

Steele was on Saban’s first two staffs at Alabama from 2007 to 2008. After a three-year run at Clemson, Steele returned to Tuscaloosa in 2013 for two more years. While he failed miserably as Baylor’s head coach at the turn of the century, Steele is probably best known today as being the defensive coordinator under Gus Malzahn at Auburn from 2016 through his termination in 2020.

Though he very briefly served as the interim head coach at his alma mater at Tennessee, Steele left Knoxville to be Cristobal’s first defensive coordinator at Miami. They went 5-7 last season…

Kevin Steele is reportedly a candidate to be Alabama’s defensive coordinator

Thus far, Saban has made one of his two coordinator hires. He replaced Bill O’Brien, who left for the New England Patriots, with former Notre Dame offensive coordinator and Fighting Irish quarterback Tommy Rees. Though Rees is in his early 30s, there is tremendous upside for him to grow as a college football coordinator by calling plays for one of the SEC’s preeminent programs.

While there was an opportunity to promote former Alabama defensive analyst Todd Grantham from within, the long-time college coordinator returned to the NFL to join Dennis Allen’s New Orleans Saints staff. Truth be told, Saban hiring Steele would be received better than promoting Grantham from within to replace Pete Golding, who left in-division to go coach over at Ole Miss.

Ultimately, Saban can make up ground by prying Steele away from Miami. The Rees hire was not all that well received. Though some may push back on hiring the 64-year-old defensive mind, we all saw how tough those Auburn front-sevens were for years under Steele’s guidance. You could say the arch-rival Tigers lost their footing by not appreciating what Steele did on Malzahn’s staff.

It may not be popular, but a coordinator pairing of Rees and Steele could be just right for Alabama.

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