Kristen Saban reacts to Greg McElroy report about Nick Saban's return to coaching

Nick Saban’s daughter Kristen addressed the rumors of her father’s potential return to coaching. She made it clear he doesn’t plan to do so.

The speculation began at the start of SEC Media Days this week when former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy asked Paul Finebaum about a rumor he heard. He cited someone “very much in the know” who believed Saban wasn’t done coaching yet despite stepping away from the sidelines last year.

It became one of the biggest stories in Atlanta during the SEC Kickoff. However, Kristen Saban made it clear her father doesn’t plan on coming back despite the rumors.

Nick Saban’s daughter Kristen decides to Curb-stomp the comeback rumors on her IG story… pic.twitter.com/naQiVIOU5o

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) July 17, 2025

“Apparently some of y’all feel trolled by my last story of Nick’s walkout,” she wrote on her Instagram story. “He’s not coming back to coaching hate to break it to you. You had your time.”

McElroy brought up the idea during an interview with Finebaum on his radio show, McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, on Monday. He 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.”

The comments quickly made their way around SEC Media Days as coaches and media reacted to the idea Saban could return. Lane Kiffin suggested the NFL could be a good fit for him while others such as Kirby Smart joked Miss Terry would be the one to make that final call.

To current Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, though, Saban’s resume speaks for itself. Whether he wants to stay retired or come back, he argued Saban can do what he sees fit given his achievements – whether that’s staying on ESPN College GameDay after an Emmy-winning first season on the show or getting back to coaching.

“He’s the greatest to ever do it,” DeBoer said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. “So, he’s earned the right to do what he wants.”