Report: Alabama hiring Notre Dame's Rees as new OC

Alabama is hiring Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees for the same role on its staff, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Rees will replace Bill O'Brien, who returned to the NFL to take the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator position.

The Notre Dame offensive coordinator has been linked to Nick Saban's staff since O'Brien left the Crimson Tide.

Rees had been a part of the Fighting Irish's offensive staff since 2017. He initially began as the program's quarterbacks coach before taking over as offensive coordinator in 2020.

Notre Dame averaged over 30 points per game in each of the three seasons Rees has coached the offense. The Fighting Irish's best production under Rees came in 2021 when they averaged 35.2 points per contest.

Alabama didn't make the College Football Playoff in 2022 but closed out its season with a victory over Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. The program will be without star quarterback Bryce Young next season after he declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.