Whisenhunt joins Crimson Tide as special assistant to Saban

Former NFL coach Ken Whisenhunt has joinedAlabama's football staff as the special assistant to head coach Nick Saban.

Whisenhunt's name appeared in Alabama's staff directory Wednesday night. He spent the past two seasons as an offensive analyst atPenn State. The formerArizona CardinalsandTennessee Titanshead coach last held an on-field role in 2019, when he finished a four-year tenure as the Chargers' offensive coordinator.

Whisenhunt began his coaching career in the SEC asVanderbilt's tight ends coach in 1995 and 1996. He then began a lengthy career in the NFL, going 48-71 in eight seasons as a head coach. Whisenhunt had two stints as Chargers offensive coordinator and three years asPittsburgh Steelersoffensive coordinator.

Whisenhunt, 60, replaces Drew Svoboda, who left Alabama after two seasons to become special teams coordinator atNorth Texas. Whisenhunt's son-in-law, Zach Mettenberger, is an Alabama analyst and a former quarterback atGeorgia,LSUand in the NFL.