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Former Alabama QB A.J. McCarron Sends Clear Message After Ty Simpson Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 1:04 PM ET

Ty Simpson officially taking the reins as the Alabama Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback did not surprise A.J. McCarron. The former Tide signal-caller, who was a backup for his first championship and led Alabama to two national titles during his career, has long supported Simpson, advocating for his ascension while urging fans to show patience.

Now that Simpson has won the job under head coach Kalen DeBoer, McCarron has expanded his message of restraint to include the very coaches tasked with guiding the 22-year-old.

DeBoer announced Simpson as the starter following Alabama’s first preseason scrimmage. Simpson, a redshirt junior who has been on campus since 2022, beat out Washington Huskies transfer Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell for the role. Simpson was credited for his command of coordinator Ryan Grubb’s offense.

A.J. McCarron Wants Alabama Coaches to Ease Ty Simpson Into Role

McCarron recently praised Simpson while pointing to an example from his own career as a first-year starter. He believes Alabama’s defense should carry the load early and that Simpson’s priority should be avoiding turnovers, not creating flashy plays.

“Not only the fan base, but the co aching staff — not putting everything on him,” McCarron said during Wednesday's "The Dynasty" podcast with co-hosts Trent Richardson and Chris Stewart. “Take what the defense gives us, and eventually, they will give us the game.”

McCarron added that if even each possession ends with a punt or field goal attempt, Simpson will have done his part to give Alabama’s defense a chance to win games.

McCarron said he is confident Simpson can handle the pressure after working with him early in Simpson’s development. He also believes Simpson’s decision to stay at Alabama, waiting his turn, rather than transfer, holds weight in the locker room.

With wide receiver Ryan Williams returning and DeBoer’s staff retooling Alabama’s offense, there is optimism that Simpson will benefit from a balanced system.

Ty Simpson’s Journey to Starter Resonates Inside Alabama Locker Room

Simpson, a former five-star recruit, thanked his teammates following the announcement. He said their belief in his perseverance filled him with confidence. “I came here out of high school w anting to be the starting quarterback, and I’m just excited,” Simpson said.

After backing up Young and Jalen Milroe in previous seasons, Simpson enters Louisiana-born DeBoer’s system at a pivotal moment for a program that has not won the SEC title since 2021, despite expectations to win the conference annually.

Simpson was one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2022 recruiting cycle and chose Alabama over Clemson and Tennessee despite his father, Jason Simpson, coaching at UT Martin.

Grubb has said Simpson would have been the starter “if the Tide played today” since early in camp. That confidence was backed when Simpson separated himself in the team’s first scrimmage, drawing praise for his poise and growth within the offense.

Alabama Hopes Simpson’s Steady Approach Keys Return to National Spotlight

McCarron’s public support underscores how much Simpson’s ability is respected by alumni who understand Alabama’s championship expectations.

Simpson does not need to be a superstar immediately. Instead, he must protect the ball, trust the defense and steer the Crimson Tide through a brutal SEC schedule, which includes matchups against five ranked opponents (road games against No. 5 Georgia and No. 13 South Carolina and home contests against No. 24 Tennessee, No. 9 LSU and No. 18 Oklahoma).

If he follows the script McCarron once used as a first-year starter, Simpson could be the face of Alabama’s resurgence under DeBoer as the program adjusts to a new era after Nick Saban’s retirement.

Alabama’s season opener against Florida State is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET Aug. 30 on ABC.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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