January 2024 rolled around and Nick Saban, the best college football head coach ever, decided to retire after 17 seasons in Alabama. Now, he works for ESPN College GameDay. Still, one question has risen: is his future in the NFL?
Lately, he was pressed on the show about the possibility of coaching again, and Saban, as cryptic as he is, didn’t give a definitive answer, but stated that there are no ‘enticing‘ options right now.
However, that’s the clear message, not right now. Meaning, if next year something pops up that fills the eye of Saban, he could be returning to coaching. However, it’s most likely he would do it in the NFL, rather than doing it at the collegiate level.
Saban faces some roadblocks
Saban made his name known in the NCAA for a simple reason. He couldn’t be bothered with the NFL structure of drafting once in the first round and having a salary cap that denies the possibility to overhaul a team in seconds. Meanwhile, at Alabama, he could recruit the best prospects in the nation without having any limitations, he ruled however he saw fit and made the changes without obstacles.
The NIL changed everything. Now, college recruitment has turned more like a professional sport. This means, Saban’s lure wasn’t as big as a huge paycheck. If he decides to return, he will face either the NIL in college, or pro-sports burocracy in the NFL.
Saban as a coach is elite
Nick Saban always drew comparison’s to his NFL counterpart, Bill Belichick. Not only are they close friends, but the way they coach and approach the sport is very similar. This means they are a handful to deal with, as they want full control of everything that happens.
On the other side, that also means they are very focused, detail-oriented, and tactical masterminds. Hence, both are regarded as the best ever in their respective fields. If a team is enticing enough to grab Saban, said franchise will have a top-tier coach, but also, it will need to be ready for a full culture shift.