Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson announced Wednesday that he will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2026 NFL Draft, closing the book on a four-year career in Tuscaloosa highlighted by a strong first season as a starter.
Simpson revealed his decision in an Instagram post and video, writing, “Grateful for every single second. Blessed beyond measure to be able to chase my dreams. Time to roll. Roll Tide.” In the video, he reflected on his time at Alabama, saying, “It wasn’t all perfect, and it didn’t have to be, but every moment had meaning, and I gave Alabama my all.”
Simpson informed head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb of his decision earlier Wednesday, according to sources. His father, UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson, said NFL teams view his son as a potential first-round pick. “Nobody said second round,” Jason Simpson said, noting that Ty Simpson also had significant transfer interest and lucrative opportunities to return to college football. “There were very, very lucrative opportunities to play another year of college football.”
A former standout at Westview High School in Martin, Tennessee, Simpson arrived at Alabama in 2022 as one of the nation’s top quarterback recruits. He spent three seasons backing up Bryce Young and later Jalen Milroe before taking over as the full-time starter under head coach Kalen DeBoer. Simpson originally committed to Alabama during Nick Saban’s tenure and played under Saban for the coach’s final two seasons.
The redshirt junior led the Crimson Tide to an 11-4 record and a College Football Playoff quarterfinal appearance in 2025. Alabama’s season ended with a 38-3 loss to top-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl, a game in which Simpson suffered a cracked rib in the third quarter. After the Rose Bowl, Simpson reflected on the team’s journey, saying, “Just how resilient these guys were,” adding, “Starting off losing the first game, losing my first start, all the doubt, all the scrutiny we all took, how we all came together and how we all were going to fight for each other. Everybody gets mad that nobody expected us to be here, but that’s kind of how it was. Started off 0-1 losing to Florida State. Now made it to the Rose Bowl. Didn’t end the way we wanted it to.”
Despite the injury at the Rose Bowl, Simpson finished the season as one of the most productive quarterbacks in the SEC. He led the conference in completions (305) and attempts (473), ranked second in passing yards with 3,567, and finished second in touchdown passes with 28. He completed 64.5% of his throws and was intercepted just five times across 15 games.
Simpson is the third Alabama underclassman to declare for the 2026 draft this week, following center Parker Brailsford and left tackle Kadyn Proctor. The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin April 23 in Pittsburgh.
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