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Kalen DeBoer signed a seven-year contract extension worth $87.5 million, making him one of the highest-paid college football coaches. He ranks just behind national champions Curt Cignetti and Kirby Smart, as well as Lane Kiffin.
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Kalen DeBoer's paychecks will look a little fuller in 2026 and beyond.
Alabama's oft-discussed football coach has faced questions regarding his job security for much of the past year. On Wednesday, he got some reassurance that his efforts as Crimson Tide play-caller are not going unnoticed. DeBoer inked a seven-year, $87.5 million contract extension, not only cementing his status as one of college football's most famous coaches -- but also one of its richest.
DeBoer now sits in the upper echelon of tacticians in terms of pay, only trailing a pair of national champions -- Curt Cignetti and Kirby Smart -- and Lane Kiffin in terms of annual salary.
With that, here's a look at the numbers behind DeBoer's impressive contract, as well as how it compares to other prominent names in the coaching landscape.
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DeBoer fetched quite the deal with his extension, seeing his average annual salary leap from the $10.5 million mark he commanded when he first joined the Crimson Tide in 2024 to $12.5 million.
By comparison, DeBoer was slated to take home $11.75 million in the final year of his previous contract.
The bumper contact is effectively a stamp approval for DeBoer, whose has proven a polarizing figure since swapping Washington for Alabama ahead of the 2025 season. Speculation over DeBoer’s future ran rife following the Crimson Tide’s shock defeat to Florida State.
However, Alabama righted the ship, pinching a ticket to the College Football Playoff after downing Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee in consecutive games.
Kalen DeBoer's new contract is worth $87.5 million over seven years.
Kalen DeBoer ranks behind Curt Cignetti, Kirby Smart, and Lane Kiffin in terms of annual salary.
The contract extension provides reassurance regarding Kalen DeBoer's job security as Alabama's football coach.
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DeBoer’s buyout figure starts at $10 million through Jan. 31, 2027. It drops to $8 million through Jan. 31, 2028 and $6 million through Jan. 31, 2029.
DeBoer already sat comfortably among college football’s wealthiest coaches. With his newest contract, he entrenches himself among the game’s elite — at least as far as bank accounts are concerned.
Here’s a look at the highest-paid coaches in college football in 2026.
| Rank | Coach | School | 2026 Salary |
| 1 | Curt Cignetti | Indiana | $13.2 million |
| 2 | Kirby Smart | Georgia | $13 million |
| Lane Kiffin | LSU | $13 million | |
| 4. | Ryan Day | Ohio State | $12.5 million |
| Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | $12.5 million | |
| 6. | Dabo Swinney | Clemson | $11.5 million |
| 7. | Dan Lanning | Oregon | $11 million |
| Lincoln Riley | USC | $11 million | |
| Mike Elko | Texas A&M | $11 million | |
| 10. | Deion Sanders | Colorado | $10.8 million |
| Steve Sarkisian | Texas | $10.8 million |