Jalen Milroe pulls back the curtain on his relationship with Alabama coaching staff at Senior Bowl

It's not a secret that Jalen Milroe struggled to adjust to life without Nick Saban and the 2023 coaching staff.

The arrival of Kalen DeBoer put Milroe in a difficult position to succeed right away, as the Crimson Tide overhauled its scheme without boasting the high-end talent needed to pull it off.

Milroe also didn't evolve as hoped.

In his initial media session at the 2025 Senior Bowl, Milroe was asked about his relationship with the Alabama coaching staff.

Specifically, his partnership with Tommy Rees.

Rees was the offensive coordinator for one season with Milroe before the Tide overhauled its staff after Saban's retirement.

Milroe was incredibly gracious and complimentary of Rees.

Jalen Milroe (1:21) "Coach Reese gave me an opportunity to expand my knowledge with the game of football.

I was a first-year starter last season in 2023, and he was the first OC of that season that I had as being a first-year starter.

And for me, the amount of knowledge I've learned from him, number one was him playing the position, number two with him coaching, I've gained so much.

The knowledge, respect, and the best thing about it is that we worked together through that process and it was so fun just from the start of the season to the end of the season, the growth and everything that comes about it that was all the work in the dark that we were able to achieve, able to see as a group, you know, when we were working together.

I have so much respect for Coach Reese, so much respect to him as Person as well just to be able to build a relationship with my time in college.

Although it was a short period of time, you know, I learned so much and so I appreciate him because, you know, as a first-year starter, being able to learn each and every game week, under him, it was, it was amazing.

So I definitely appreciated the grind at all that was put in that season." The Tide ranked 24th in scoring offense by riding Milroe as the engine of the unit.

Instead of DeBoer's attack, which struggled to run the ball and asked Milroe to play against his strengths, Rees eased Milroe into a devastating deep ball merchant and run threat.

It wasn't always easy, as Milroe was benched before the first month of the season was over.

He came back onto the field with a vengeance, though, and the harmony between Rees and Milroe was clear.

Rees had flattering things to say about Milroe, too.

You know, I think it shows a great amount of character, a great amount of competitiveness from those two guys, but it also shows a love for their teammates and a love for being here, Tommy Rees said.

And honestly, it speaks volumes about the program that guys want to stay here, and so I think its really special that in this age of college football, especially at the quarterback position when guys are so eager to leave, that two guys looked at an opportunity to stay here, to care about their teammates, to continue to improve.

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