3 former Alabama football stars that should join Nick Saban’s staff
By John Buhler
San Francisco 49ers. 1. player. Pick Analysis. Defensive Coordinator. DeMeco Ryans. 42. Scouting Report
DeMeco Ryans may have bigger plans in mind than coaching with Nick Saban
Even if he never played for Saban, DeMeco Ryans was an absolute legend on the gridiron for Alabama. The former unanimous All-American played for the Crimson Tide during a down cycle under Shula. He would go on to play a decade in the NFL with the Houston Texans and later the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring in 2015. After that, Ryans got into the coaching profession.
Ryans joined Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers staff in 2017 as a defensive quality control assistant. He then became the inside linebackers coach under Robert Saleh in 2018. Now, Ryans has replaced Saleh as defensive coordinator, who left the 49ers to become the New York Jets head coach this past offseason. So one would think Ryans is on the fast track to be an NFL head coach.
Frankly, if he were to join Saban’s staff at this point, it would be a lateral move at best. However, there is a chance he could need the Saban treatment in a way if things do not go swimmingly for him leading San Francisco’s defense. Leaving the NFL ranks to go coach defense in college worked out very well for Mel Tucker. Once again, you only have one alma mater, and Ryans’ is Alabama.
What other former Alabama football stars could come back to coach alongside Saban?
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