The Alabama Crimson Tide have enjoyed great success in college football throughout their entire history. The ‘Script A’ became the staple for every NCAA program, though not many have ever achieved such a dominant run as Nick Saban did at the helm of Bama. When asked about the best head coach of all time, though, Saban didn’t name himself, and neither did he mention names like Bill Belichick, or Vince Lombardi. Instead, his heart guided him to stay in Tuscaloosa.
Saban led Alabama to six national championships in college football, though he leads the all-time list for most by a head coach with seven trophies thanks to his crowning at the helm of LSU. Regardless of his unrepeatable milestone, Saban didn’t hand the honor of best head coach of all time to himself.
Belichick could’ve been a more than reasonable answer, as well. The six-time Super Bowl winning head coach (eight-time when considering the two rings he won as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants) is arguably the best mind to ever stand on the sideline of an NFL field, and he will have his first experience in the NCAA during the 2025 season.
Still, Saban thought of someone else. It wasn’t Vince Lombardi either—the five-time NFL champion who won Super Bowls I and II with the Green Bay Packers. His impact on football is so profound that the most coveted trophy in the sport bears his name.
Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels coaches during North Carolina’s “Practice Like A Pro” Spring Football Event at Kenan Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Saban’s choice
Instead, during an interview for the upcoming “Nothing but a Winner” documentary—following the rise of Alabama’s dynasty in college football—Saban was asked who he considers the greatest head coach of all time. He didn’t hesitate before giving a firm answer.
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“I think that coach [Paul “Bear”] Bryant is the greatest coach of all time,” Saban said, as reported by TD Alabama Magazine.
Those who came before him
Saban’s answer is a tip of the hat towards a fellow legend in Tuscaloosa. Paul Bryant, dubbed “Bear” because of his famous tilt with a circus bear during his adolescence, coached Alabama from 1958 to 1982, continuing his inmortal legacy in Tuscaloosa where he also played and attended school.
Former college football head coach Nick Saban prepares to tee off during the Pro-am to the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 07, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Bryant led the Crimson Tide to six national championships and is tied with Saban for most championships with Alabama. Bryant coached eight more seasons than Saban in Alabama, thus, he holds the upper-hand in all-time wins and conference titles.
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However, their stats are very evenly matched, and the debate over who is the greatest coach to ever step foot in Tuscaloosa is unlikely to ever reach a universal conclusion—at least among fans and alumni of the University of Alabama. Saban, however, firmly believes Bear Bryant stands a peck above.
