Why Lane Kiffin recently reached out to former Alabama QB Blake Sims

Former Alabama football quarterback, Blake Sims received a thank you message from Ole Miss’ head coach Lane Kiffin on last week.

Kiffin wanted the now high school football coach to know he played a huge role in his coaching career.

“I just want to thank you,” Kiffin told Sims, per ESPN’s Chris Low. “You probably don’t know how much you helped my career.”

Sims was the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback in 2024 when Kiffin was Alabama’s offensive coordinator. The two helped usher in the beginning of a more explosive offensive passing attack in Tuscaloosa during that season. Sims finished the year with 3,487 passing yards, 250 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns.

Kiffin took a head coaching job at Florida Atlantic after his tenure with Alabama football. Ole Miss hired him in 2019.