Would Saban actually return to coaching? Some think rumor could be NFL centered

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July 15, 2025

Southeastern Conference analyst and radio host on WJOX in Birmingham, Greg McElroy, kicked off the SEC Media Days in Atlanta with news that could change the entire SEC.

McElroy revealed that he has recently heard from a “prominent source in the know” that former Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban may return to the Gridiron. Though the source was not revealed, the former Crimson Tide quarterback noted that he would not have gone public with the information if the individual was not trustworthy.

Naturally, a rumor this huge set off a firestorm of reaction as everyone tried to guess whether or not Saban could actually come back to coaching and take over a new college program.

While in reality this is probably unlikely — especially given the state of college sports — some have the thought that he could be pursuing a position in the National Football League.

“I don’t believe that Nick Saban is going to come back to college football until there’s a firm set of rules, which is not going to happen before he turns 80, probably.”

“This sounds like an NFL discussion to me.”@Andy_Staples x @AriWasserman https://t.co/lDnjTyGGmf pic.twitter.com/35m3N9caBH

— On3 (@On3sports) July 14, 2025

“I don’t believe that Nick Saban is going to come back to college football until there’s a firm set of rules, which is not going to happen before he turns 80, probably,” Andy Staples of On3 stated.

Co-host Ari Wasserman also believes Saban’s days coaching a college team are more than likely over.

“If you’re a coach, you can’t put out the flame or desire to want to be a part of a competitive environment,” Wasserman said. “But at the same time, I can’t think of any program where this makes reasonable sense in college. This sounds like an NFL discussion to me.”

Saban returning to the NFL for the first time since leaving the Miami Dolphins for Alabama way back in 2007 would be an absolutely massive story, but for now, it feels pretty farfetched.

Nonetheless, expect this rumor to be followed closely in the coming months.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.