When Nick Saban announced his retirement out of the blue at the onset of last offseason, the question on everyone’s lips was whether the legendary coach had truly hung up his whistle for good. With seven national championships under his belt, stepping away from the sidelines seemed premature to many fans and analysts.
This week, the rumor mill buzzed once more with whispers that the ex-Alabama head coach might be considering a return to the college football landscape. The speculation got a fresh twist when one of his former proteges, Lane Kiffin, decided to weigh in on the matter during the SEC Media Days.
Kiffin, who served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under Saban from 2014 to 2016, didn’t hold back when quizzed about the prospect of welcoming his old mentor back into the coaching fold. “He’s not going to need me to hire him,” Kiffin quipped. “I don’t think he’s done. I think he’ll be back. Whether that’s college or NFL, I think he’ll be back.”
It’s worth noting that Kiffin’s nod to potential NFL aspirations adds an intriguing layer to the conversation. Saban’s infamously brief NFL head coaching stint with the Miami Dolphins ended when he traded it for the greener pastures of Tuscaloosa back in the mid-2000s.
Besides that, Saban’s forays into the pro ranks include roles as defensive backs coach for the Houston Oilers in the late ’80s and as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns under his good friend Bill Belichick in the early ’90s.
However, not everyone shares this optimism about Saban’s return. ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum provided a different perspective, highlighting a comfortable retirement lifestyle that might deter a comeback. “I’m much closer to Nick Saban’s age than you are and I can assure you,” Finebaum noted, “when you have everything you want and you start playing golf at the best golf clubs in America and make a lot of money for doing very little work on TV, the interest in returning isn’t very high.”
Whether Saban is tempted back into the football fray or contents himself with retirement’s leisurely offerings remains to be seen. As fans, we can only speculate on the odds of seeing him on the sidelines once more, orchestrating brilliant game plans and molding the next generation of football stars.
