For the fourth consecutive season, Alabama football will have a different man running its offense.

In 2025, Ryan Grubb will take over as offensive coordinator, sources with knowledge of the hire told AL.com Sunday. It’s a spot that Nick Sheridan filled in 2024 as offensive coordinator after Tommy Rees (2023) and Bill O’Brien (2022).

It’s nothing short of significant that Grubb will be Alabama’s next offensive coordinator. In fact, this might be what the Crimson Tide needs to get back to one of the nation’s elite offenses. He and Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer have a history of notable success together, most recently as head coach and offensive coordinator at Washington.

That makes this move a smart one, even if causes shuffling on the Crimson Tide offensive staff. Alabama didn’t have an opening at offensive coordinator, but when DeBoer had the chance to add one of the best in college football again, he made the move.

Before DeBoer and Grubb split, the Huskies had the nation’s No. 12 offense in yards per game (462.1) and No. 13 in scoring (36 points per game). The year before that, Washington had the No. 2 offense in yards per game (515.8) and No. 7 in scoring (39.7 points per game).

Then, DeBoer took the Alabama job, and Grubb was set to come with him. He was the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator for a few weeks. Then the Seattle Seahawks hired Grubb to run their offense.

DeBoer moved tight ends coach Nick Sheridan into the offensive coordinator spot, and Alabama finished with the No. 42 offense in yards per game (410.2) and No. 23 scoring offense (33.8 points per game).

Meanwhile, the Seahawks had the No. 14 offense out of 32 in yards per game (332.2) and No. 18 scoring offense (22.1 points per game).

Neither offense was remarkable by any means. Not like the two years at Washington. Not all of that can fall on DeBoer and Sheridan in Tuscaloosa or Grubb in Seattle. There are extenuating circumstances. But each had an impact on their respective offenses and deserve to shoulder some of the blame.

So DeBoer is returning to what works. That means reuniting with Grubb.

There’s reason to be excited if you cheer for the Crimson Tide. The duo has accomplished quite a bit together. There’s proof of concept. DeBoer and Grubb have their work cut out for them, though. The offense enters with plenty of questions in 2025.

Who will be the starting quarterback?

Can he provide more consistency in 2025 than Jalen Milroe did in 2024?

Can the offense better assist the quarterback than it did in 2024?

What will the running game look like?

Can the offensive line improve?

Those are just a few of the lingering questions looming over next season.

DeBoer and Grubb have combined to develop Michael Penix Jr. and Jake Haener, both NFL quarterbacks now. The two coaches need to muster more of that magic to produce a third NFL quarterback this season. Or at least one who can run the Alabama offense at an efficient and productive rate.

Grubb also has coached offensive line at multiple stops in his career: Sioux Falls, Eastern Michigan and Fresno State. In addition to his work with the quarterbacks, he brings experience working with the big men up front. That won’t hurt, in addition to offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic’s teaching.

Pair consistent quarterback play with consistent offensive line play, and Alabama’s offense will be in business again. Perhaps one of the best in the country again.

The Crimson Tide has the weapons for it; Ryan Williams is back. Germie Bernard is too. Add in Isaiah Horton from Miami to be a big-bodied receiver as well as the healthy return of Cole Adams, and Alabama’s got plenty of good options for its next quarterback.

Plus, Jam Miller returns at running back to go with Richard Young and others. It’s important Grubb uses them effectively. Alabama doesn’t have to have a run-first offense, but it needs a healthy amount of running to take the pressure off a new quarterback.

This scenario couldn’t have worked out much better for the Crimson Tide, being able to secure a successful college offensive coordinator in Grubb who knows how to work with DeBoer. There’s no time to celebrate the hire, though.

Now Grubb and DeBoer need to get back in the shop and get to work on fixing an Alabama offense that was flawed in 2024.