In one of the most significant developments in college football history, legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired after the 2023 season. His departure marked the end of an era, not only due to his unmatched legacy but also because it sparked a wave of coaching changes and transfer portal activity that reshaped the landscape of the sport. While college football lost one of its all-time greats on the sidelines, fans gained a new media presence as Saban joined ESPN’s College GameDay this past season. Despite his reputation for being terse and no-nonsense with the media during his coaching days, Saban revealed a more engaging and charismatic side alongside Pat McAfee and the rest of the crew.
Interestingly, his former offensive coordinator and current Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin suggested on Theo Von’s podcast This Past Weekend that Saban might not be done coaching altogether—just possibly not in college. When asked if he thought Saban missed coaching, Kiffin responded, “I do.” He added that Saban was so deeply wired for the daily demands of coaching that he couldn’t imagine him just settling into retirement. “He’s not the kind of guy who’s just going to sit back and be a grandpa,” Kiffin said, speculating that the GameDay role helps fill the void, but even hinted that an NFL comeback could be on the table. “I wouldn’t actually be surprised if he came back in the NFL—even as a head coach.”
At 73, with his birthday in October, Saban would be the second-oldest coach in the NFL, behind Pete Carroll of the Raiders. Saban previously coached the Miami Dolphins for two seasons, compiling a 15-17 record, and has since called his move from LSU to the NFL “the biggest professional mistake” of his career. Though he hasn’t publicly indicated any intention to return to coaching, it’s hard to believe teams wouldn’t at least reach out. In the meantime, he’s thriving in his new role—he was recently nominated for an Emmy in the “Outstanding Personality/Emerging On-Air Talent” category.
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