It’s been nearly two years since Nick Saban last walked a college football sideline. He left the game a legend, riding off into retirement after a 27–20 overtime loss capped off a 201–29 run at Alabama that included six national titles. They named the field after him. They made space for him in the College Football Hall of Fame. He took a seat at ESPN, where he's been thriving.
But apparently, retirement might not be a full-time gig for the 73-year-old, thanks to a mic-drop-moment that came out of nowhere:
“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 — they seem to think Nick Saban is not done coaching. He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again,” former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said at SEC Media Days.
McElroy walked the quote back a bit after it went viral, but the speculation isn’t going away anytime soon. And in New York, the timing couldn’t be worse for Brian Daboll. I mean, the rumor practically begs us to imagine a world where Saban takes over as Big Blue's next head coach. We're not going to not entertain the thought.
Giants could become a potential option if Brian Daboll falters in 2025
The New York Giants head coach enters the 2025 season facing enormous pressure to show real progress. After going 3–14 last year, ownership has made it clear that patience is running thin. Daboll’s overall record sits at 18–32–1, and his reputation as an offensive mind hasn’t matched what’s actually happened on the field. He’s cycled through quarterbacks, struggled to find consistency, and been dogged by reports of internal friction.
If it doesn’t work this year, it’s hard to imagine a way forward with Dabes at the helm.
Saban, meanwhile, has history-adjacent with the G-Men. His name’s popped up in past coaching searches. He also gave Daboll his break, hiring him twice — once at Michigan State as a grad assistant and then again at Alabama, where the pair won a national championship together. The overlap is there, and so might be the intrigue.
There’s no guarantee Saban wants the NFL again... or coaching for that matter. His short stint with the Miami Dolphins ended abruptly, and he’s never fully embraced the chaos of the pro level. But if he’s looking for one last shot, to settle the score or go reverse Bill Belichick, New York could make some sense. Especially if Daboll's gone and the job's available.
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