3 potential destinations for former Alabama head coach Nick Saban with rumors swirling that he's going to coach again
SEC Network/ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy made sure there were plenty of fireworks on the first day of SEC Media Days. McElroy, a former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback, said on the "Mac and Cube" show that he's heard that former Bama head coach Nick Saban is not done coaching. "A very much in the know person […]
SEC Network/ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy made sure there were plenty of fireworks on the first day of SEC Media Days.
McElroy, a former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback, said on the "Mac and Cube" show that he's heard that former Bama head coach Nick Saban is not done coaching.
"A very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around, and just really, really admire, they seem to think Nick Saban is not done coaching," said McElroy. "He's pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again."
Saban, who won six national championships at Alabama and one at LSU, retired from coaching after the 2023 season.
The legendary head coach will turn 74 in October, so while he's on the older side, he's still young enough to coach for a few more years if he chooses to.
The big question, of course, is where would Saban coach if he decides to unretire?
Here are my three best guesses.
LSU Tigers
This would be poetic, right? Saban's decision to leave Baton Rouge after the 2005 season was a move that had a major impact on the SEC and college football as a whole. Saban left LSU to try his luck as a head coach in the NFL. After two lackluster seasons as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Saban returned to college football and started the sport's greatest modern day dynasty at Alabama. If Brian Kelly can't get the job done at LSU in 2025, maybe the Tigers will move on from the former Notre Dame head coach and see if Saban wants to return to Baton Rouge and finish what he started back in the early 2000s.
The NFL — New York Giants or Cincinnati Bengals
You just know that Saban hates that he failed in the NFL. And you know that deep down, he thinks he could have success at football's highest level.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who worked under Saban for three seasons at Alabama, said on Monday that he could see his former boss returning to the NFL.
"I kinda thought it might be the NFL (for Saban)," said Kiffin on Monday during an appearance on the SEC Network. "Because he's so sharp still."
If Saban makes the jump to the NFL, the New York Giants or the Cincinnati Bengals would make a lot of sense (if either job comes open). The Giants have some nice young talent — including a player in wide receiver Malik Nabers that Saban loves. The Bengals, meanwhile, would be the best win-now situation with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase on the roster. If Cincinnati comes up short of the playoffs again, it wouldn't be a surprise if head coach Zac Taylor is dismissed.
Alabama Crimson Tide
If Kalen DeBoer falls flat in 2025, maybe Alabama decides to move on and brings Saban back to coach in 2026 while also leading the search for a new coach. DeBoer, after all, wasn't necessarily Saban's guy. If it doesn't work out with DeBoer, it would make sense for Saban to be part of the search process while making sure the program remains stable. This one seems like a longshot, but I think we've all learned to never say never in college football.
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