Saban returning to Capitol Hill to lead panel on NIL

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban has kept busy since his retirement.

From television appearances to golf outings, he’s been active. However, one of his key goals after stepping down was to improve collegiate athletics during these uncertain times. As a coach, Saban was known for genuinely caring about his players and helping them create value for their futures, both on and off the field.

In March, Saban spoke at an Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) roundtable headed up by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and spoke openly about the state of college sports in 2024. Now, Saban will head to Washington once again to speak at a panel discussion put together by U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) as a part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s legislative conference.

RELATED: Saban to Congress: ‘All the things that I believed in for all these years, 50 years of coaching, no longer exist in college athletics’

“It is a very hot topic in Congress,” Rep. Sewell told AL.com. “Hearing directly from those involved in the changing landscape would benefit all of us… Every state is now creating its own rules, which is allowing some states to be more competitive than others. I see and understand the need for federal intervention, especially since the NCAA has lost much of its credibility. Setting up federal guardrails to level the playing field is what many in collegiate athletics are seeking.”

Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) Commissioner Charles McClelland will also speak at the event. Both the SEC and SWAC are headquartered in Birmingham, which falls within Sewell’s district.

Charles McClelland, Commissioner of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) will also speak. Both the SEC and the SWAC are headquartered in Birmingham.

RELATED: Nick Saban, U.S. Senators want to regulate NIL before it’s too late

The last time he was in Washington, Saban went as far as to say the current NIL system made him lose faith in beliefs he’s held for his entire career.