Alabama QB Ty Simpson's Steady Rise to Likely First-Round NFL Draft Pick

How the coach's son used patience, football acumen and a breakout 2025 season to become one of the most intriguing QB prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:49pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football quarterback in the act of throwing a pass, with the player's body and the ball broken down into overlapping angular shapes and planes in shades of crimson red and white.Ty Simpson's steady rise from Alabama backup to potential first-round NFL draft pick showcases the value of patience and development for quarterback prospects.Martin Today

Ty Simpson, the son of UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson, overcame a disappointing start to the 2025 season to emerge as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. After three years as a backup at Alabama, Simpson finally got his chance to start last season and impressed with his poise, decision-making and big-game performances, including a upset win over Georgia. Now, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound QB is poised to hear his name called early on draft day despite concerns over his size and limited starting experience.

Why it matters

Simpson's rise from Alabama backup to likely first-round pick highlights the value of patience and development for NFL quarterback prospects. As teams continue to seek the next franchise QB, Simpson's story shows how a coach's son with a strong football IQ can maximize his potential through steady improvement, even if the path to stardom isn't linear.

The details

After struggling in the 2025 season opener against Florida State, Simpson bounced back with a string of impressive performances, including a 276-yard, 2-touchdown game in a upset win over then-No. 5 Georgia. He finished the season with 2,812 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions, cementing his status as a top QB prospect despite his limited starting experience. Simpson's football acumen, honed from growing up around his father's UT Martin program, has been a major asset in his development.

  • In the 2025 season opener, Simpson went 23-of-43 for 254 yards and 2 TDs in a 31-17 loss to Florida State.
  • In Week 4 of the 2025 season, Simpson led Alabama to a 24-21 upset win over No. 5 Georgia, throwing for 276 yards and 2 TDs.
  • On October 18, 2025, Simpson's father Jason was able to attend Alabama's home game against Tennessee after his UT Martin team had an earlier kickoff that day.

The players

Ty Simpson

A 6-foot-1, 210-pound quarterback who emerged as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after a breakout 2025 season at Alabama.

Jason Simpson

The head coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin, Ty Simpson's father who has helped instill a strong football IQ in his son from a young age.

Kalen DeBoer

The former Washington head coach who took over as Alabama's head coach in 2024 and rewarded Simpson's patience by making him the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback.

Nick Sheridan

The former Alabama co-offensive coordinator and current Michigan State offensive coordinator who has praised Simpson's growth and development as a quarterback.

Lotzeir Brooks

The Alabama wide receiver who caught a go-ahead 30-yard touchdown pass from Simpson against Oklahoma, one of the QB's standout throws of the 2025 season.

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What they’re saying

“It's easy to root for him. First of all, just with how he stayed the course here, and competed, but waited for his time, and kept improving during the first three years he was here. And so he's easy to root for in that way.”

— Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Head Coach

“There's understanding of the situation, and Ty's a coach's kid and has been around a lot of football, and so I think he can process that. There's got to be a lot of belief and confidence, and there's experiences that he's either seen or went through himself, that probably allow him to be able to just focus on the moment and not let it be too big.”

— Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Head Coach

“It's been great to see that growth, but not surprising. As a coach, you see this fairly regularly. You see an 18-year-old kid turn into a 22-year-old man, and what that looks like, and certainly the growth that occurred for him at Alabama, a lot of people deserve a lot of credit for that — certainly nobody more than Ty.”

— Nick Sheridan, Michigan State Offensive Coordinator

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.