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40m ago

Nick Saban Shuts Down Comeback Talk, Rebukes Greg McElroy at Legacy Awards

Saban says he is content in retirement, citing his current roles off the sideline.

Sep 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Nick Saban expresses his feelings about the honor during remarks made at halftime of the game with South Florida. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images/File Photo
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Overview

  • Speaking at the Nick Saban Legacy Awards on Aug. 18 in Birmingham, Saban dismissed rumors of a return, saying "I don't know where that came from" and quipping that if Greg McElroy had said that as a player, he would have "got his ass kicked."
  • The speculation traces to July when McElroy said on his 'Mac and Cube' radio show that a trusted source believed Saban was "not done coaching," a remark that drew attention during SEC Media Days.
  • Saban reiterated there is no opportunity that would pull him back to the sideline and that he enjoys this stage of life, echoing recent comments he made on FOX & Friends.
  • He cited 14-hour days, recruiting demands, shifts in college football, and the difficult Rose Bowl loss to Michigan as factors in stepping away after the 2023 season.
  • He remains visible with ESPN’s College GameDay and in an advisory capacity at Alabama, while Kalen DeBoer enters his second season with the Tide ranked No. 8 in the AP preseason poll, the program’s lowest preseason slot since 2008, per ClutchPoints.