Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has long maintained a strong relationship with college football legend Nick Saban. So much so, that in recent comments to the media, the Rebels’ head coach made a major statement regarding his colleague’s enduring role in the sport.
The multi-time national champion with Alabama — and previously with LSU — has recently taken on a role as a NCAAF analyst, stepping away from coaching for the time being. Despite this shift, Kiffin still believes that Saban should return to the sidelines — and not just in college football, but as a head coach in the NFL.
“I do (think he misses coaching),” Kiffin said on This Past Weekend with Theo Von. “I did always think, okay, if he was going to do this, he was going to have to have, and I and they used to say he’s going to have to kind of have that College GameDay spot, because he’s going to want to still, like be involved. You know? He’s just so wired all day long to do something for his entire life, now he’s not going to sit around and just, you know, be a grandpa? That’s not him.
“So I think because of that, that’s helped a lot. I wouldn’t actually be surprised if he came back in the NFL, even, you know, as head coach, because he’s just so good at it, and so in him that I’m not sure he won’t come back.”
Nick Saban’s previous experience in the NFL
Nick Saban’s experience is often overlooked when discussing his legendary college coaching career, but it remains a notable chapter in his football journey. His most prominent role came as head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2005 to 2006, where he posted a 15–17 record over two seasons. Despite some competitive moments, Saban’s Dolphins failed to reach the playoffs in either year, and he ultimately returned to college football, where he would cement his status as one of the greatest to ever coach the game.
Before his stint in Miami, Saban also gained valuable NFL experience as an assistant. He coached with the Houston Oilers from 1988 to 1989, and later served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns from 1991 to 1994 under Bill Belichick. That period with the Browns is particularly significant, as it placed Saban within one of the most influential coaching trees in football history.
While his NFL head coaching tenure was brief, the insights and discipline he carried from those years clearly influenced the dynasty he would go on to build at the collegiate level.
SURVEY Could Nick Saban return to coaching someday?
Could Nick Saban return to coaching someday?
already voted 9 fans