Greg McElroy: Person ‘in the know’ believes Nick Saban will return to coaching

ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning he heard someone predict Nick Saban will return to coaching at some point. He cited a “very much in the know person” who thinks Saban would get back to the sidelines.

McElroy brought up the idea during an interview on the show with Paul Finebaum. Saban currently works as an analyst for ESPN, but is not part of SEC Network’s coverage of SEC Media Days in Atlanta and is not in attendance this week.

McElroy pointed out it was someone “notable” who told him they think Saban isn’t necessarily done coaching. In fact, he said the person was “adamant.”

“This is a little bit out of left field, but the question was asked of me … a very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around and just really, really admire,” McElroy said. “They seem to think Nick Saban’s not done coaching. I had a similar reaction. He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again. … Look, if it wasn’t someone notable, I’d never say a word.”

Finebaum responded with a resounding, “No” when McElroy asked if he “bought” the speculation. The former Alabama quarterback agreed with him, and Finebaum pointed out the life the legendary coach is living – including his improving golf game.

“Greg, you know Nick Saban better than I do, but I ran into somebody the other day who spends time with Saban in Florida – you can imagine where – and said that he is literally having the time of his life,” Finebaum said. “And why wouldn’t he? I’m much closer to Nick Saban’s age than you are and I can assure you, when you have everything you want and you start playing golf at the best golf clubs in America and you start making friends who belong to even better golf clubs and you make a lot of money for doing very little work on TV, the interest in doing what he walked away from is not very high.

“He had a better situation at Alabama the day he left than anywhere he goes, let’s say it’s next year. Now, I don’t know whether it’s college or pros – could he be talked into something in the NFL? I don’t know how, because I don’t know that itch burns anymore, either. But my opinion is Nick Saban is done in coaching.”

Saban retired as Alabama head coach after the 2023 season following a legendary 50-year coaching career. He won seven national championships – six of which came in Tuscaloosa – before walking away. He then spent 2024 with ESPN and won an Emmy for his performance on College GameDay.