Alabama football: Nick Saban introduces Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator, QB coach

Alabama officially announced Bill O’Brien as their new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

As is the case every couple of years in Tuscaloosa, the Alabama Crimson Tide are in need of a new offensive coordinator. The opening became official after the CFP National Championship Game, as Steve Sarkisian was hired to be the next head coach for Texas. The Crimson Tide reached the NFL ranks to find his replacement.

On Thursday, Alabama officially announced that former Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien will serve as the team’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

O’Brien looking for redemption in Alabama

“We are pleased and happy to be able to add Bill O’Brien to our coaching staff,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said, via the team’s official website. “He has a wealth of experience as both an offensive coordinator and head coach in the NFL and college. Bill is one of the brightest offensive minds in football, an outstanding teacher and excellent recruiter. He will strengthen our coaching staff and give our players the best possible chance to be successful.”

O’Brien, who has experience coaching at the college level during his time at Penn State, is looking forward to the newest venture in his career.

“I am honored and excited to join Coach Saban’s staff at The University of Alabama,” O’Brien said. “I have an incredible amount of admiration for the rich football tradition at this University and the success Coach Saban has had during his time in Tuscaloosa. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with some of the best football players in the country, while helping to continue the success this program has enjoyed for many years.”

O’Brien is best known for his time with the Texans, where he was hired as head coach in 2014 and ultimately served as the general manager in 2020. O’Brien did have success for the most part, as he had an overall record of 52-48 and led the team to four AFC South titles. O’Brien was fired by the Texans this season after starting off the year with an 0-4 record.

Prior to his time with the Texans and his two-season stint with the Nittany Lions, O’Brien worked with the New England Patriots. He stared off as an offensive assistant in 2007, moved up to wide receivers coach in 2008 and became the team’s quarterbacks coach from 2009-10. O’Brien worked extensively with Tom Brady, who just so happened to have won the NFL MVP award in 2010. O’Brien was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2011 and would depart for Penn State at the conclusion of that season.

Saban is known for his ability to bring in retread head coaches and bring them back to prominence. We saw it with Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin in particular. Maybe, just maybe, O’Brien will end up with another job as a sideline boss in the near future. Of course, that would come after Alabama wins a couple of National Championships, which certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

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