Finebaum: DeBoer’s roughly $68M buyout makes Alabama exit unlikely, Napier’s future at Florida in question

On Tuesday’s Rich Eisen Show, ESPN/SEC Network commentator Paul Finebaum said he doubts Billy Napier will remain Florida’s coach through 2026 and argued Kalen DeBoer’s enormous buyout makes an early Alabama departure impractical. Finebaum contrasted the two contracts, noting Napier’s buyout is relatively small while DeBoer’s is in the high tens of millions. He pointed out only once has a coach faced a larger payout — Jimbo Fisher’s $76 million settlement with Texas A&M — and suggested Alabama isn’t in a position to absorb a comparable cost. Napier’s deal requires Florida to pay roughly 85% of his remaining salary if he is dismissed without cause; after the 2025 season that obligation would be about $19.38 million. DeBoer inked an eight-year, $87 million contract with Alabama in January 2024, and his buyout is commonly estimated in the mid-to-high $60 million range (roughly $63–$70 million depending on timing). Finebaum acknowledged that on-field results can change calculus, noting DeBoer’s job could become more precarious if losses mount. For now, though, the size of the buyout provides a strong financial deterrent to any swift move. Alabama sits 1–1 to start this season. The T...