Nick Saban’s retirement from coaching in January 2024 seemed like the end of an era for college football. After an unparalleled 50-year career, including 17 seasons at Alabama and a record seven national championships, Saban appeared to be enjoying a well-earned break. He took up golfing with renewed vigor, earned an Emmy for his work on ESPN’s College GameDay, and stepped away from the daily grind of coaching. But recent comments from key figures in the college football world have reignited speculation about a possible Saban comeback.
On July 14, 2025, former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, now an ESPN analyst, dropped a bombshell on his WJOX radio show in Birmingham. McElroy revealed that a "very much in the know person"—someone he respects deeply and who is "notable"—is "pretty adamant" that Nick Saban is not done coaching and will return to the sidelines at some point. “He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again,” McElroy said, adding that he wouldn’t share such speculation if it weren’t credible.
McElroy’s revelation sent waves through the college football community, especially since he later tempered his own belief by stating, “You want my personal opinion? I think he’s done. I’d be shocked [if he came back].” Yet, he emphasized that people connected to the sports world genuinely believe Saban’s coaching chapter isn’t closed.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who worked under Saban as Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2014 to 2016 and won a national title together in 2015, weighed in during SEC Media Days in Atlanta. Kiffin expressed his conviction that Saban isn’t finished with coaching. “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,” Kiffin told reporters. His close working relationship with Saban lends weight to his prediction.
Nick Saban’s coaching career is nothing short of legendary. His seven national championships are the most in college football history, with six of those titles coming during his time at Alabama. Before his Crimson Tide success, he coached at Toledo, Michigan State, and LSU, and even spent two seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. His last game as Alabama’s head coach was a hard-fought overtime loss to eventual national champion Michigan in the 2024 College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl.
Since retiring, Saban has been a prominent figure on ESPN’s College GameDay, earning an Emmy for his insightful analysis in the 2024 season. Despite his media presence, Saban notably skipped the 2025 SEC Media Days, a departure from his active involvement in the previous year’s event. This absence has only stoked rumors about his future plans.
However, not everyone is convinced that a Saban comeback is imminent. ESPN personality Paul Finebaum, a longtime Alabama insider and media figure, strongly doubts Saban will return to coaching. On McElroy’s radio show, Finebaum dismissed the idea, stating he had recently spoken to someone close to Saban in Florida who described the former coach as "literally having the time of his life." Finebaum painted a picture of Saban enjoying the best golf clubs in America, making new friends, and earning a substantial income from relatively light TV duties and speaking engagements.
“He had a better situation at Alabama the day he left than he’ll have anywhere he goes, let’s say next year,” Finebaum said. “I don’t know if it’s college or pros. Could he be talked into something in the NFL? I don’t know how, because I don’t think that itch burns anymore either. But my opinion is Nick Saban is done in coaching.”
Finebaum’s perspective highlights the allure of Saban’s current lifestyle. At 73, Saban is relishing his retirement, playing golf at elite clubs and enjoying financial rewards for minimal work on television. The former coach’s competitive nature is well-known, but Finebaum suggests that the combination of comfort and success in his post-coaching career might outweigh any desire to return to the high-pressure world of football.
If Saban does decide to return to coaching, he would become the oldest active head coach in college football, surpassing North Carolina’s Bill Belichick by a year. In the NFL, he would be the second-oldest coach, just behind Las Vegas Raiders’ Pete Carroll. Given his age and the evolving landscape of college football—with recent changes in name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules, transfer regulations, and the aftermath of the House v. NCAA settlement—a return would certainly come with new challenges.
Alabama, meanwhile, remains a powerhouse with championship aspirations. The Crimson Tide are listed at +1500 odds to win the upcoming National Championship on BetMGM, reflecting both the team’s talent and the legacy Saban left behind. His final season in 2023 saw Alabama reach the College Football Playoff, underscoring the enduring strength of the program he built.
While the speculation continues, the truth is that Nick Saban’s future remains uncertain. Whether he’s truly ready to lace up the coaching shoes again or will continue to enjoy his retirement remains to be seen. For now, the college football world watches and waits, knowing that if anyone is capable of a legendary comeback, it’s Nick Saban.
