Nick Saban believes Penn State should look to the NFL to fill its head coaching vacancy. The former Alabama head coach backed former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who his knows from experience.
Saban delivered his endorsement Wednesday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” calling Daboll “an outstanding hire” and explaining why his skill set translates well across levels. He enjoys the teaching aspect, along with maintaining player relationships.
“He’s a very good coach, he’s a bright guy,” Saban said. “He relates well to the players, he’s a good teacher, he’s got a good offensive mind and he’ll be able to put a good staff together.”
NEW: Nick Saban is in favor of Penn State hiring former Giants head coach Brian Daboll:
"He's a very good coach, he's a bright guy, he's a good recruiter, he relates well to the players, he's a good teacher, he's got a good offensive mind, he'll be able to put a good staff… pic.twitter.com/VhmbD24Uhl
— On3 (@On3sports) November 26, 2025
Penn State parted ways with James Franklin following a 3–3 start that included a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern, which was his final game in Happy Valley. The tables quickly turned with Franklin finding s new road to Virginia Tech. The decision ended his 12-season tenure just months after making the College Football Playoff.
Interim coach Terry Smith has done a great job stepping in to fill the void from Franklin being gone.
Daboll checks multiple revival boxes. A former Alabama offensive coordinator on Saban’s 2017 national championship staff, Daboll later revived Buffalo’s offense, developing Josh Allen into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. That work helped earn Daboll the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year award. He was fired by the Giants earlier this month after a 2–8 start in 2025, an abrupt exit that quickly pivoted into a new opportunity.
However, Daboll lacks a proven, contemporary recruiting track record at the Power Four scale and has not managed a roster built through the transfer portal, name, image and likeness, or collective fundraising. All key components for the new era in college football.
Saban acknowledged those gaps indirectly, stressing that Daboll’s connectivity with players and aptitude for staff building would allow Penn State to “recruit well” with the right assistants.
Kraft’s search team continues to evaluate multiple sitting coordinators and experienced college coaches, but Saban’s push offered a reminder that quarterback development can be a program-defining separator.
Saban sees Daboll as being capable of restoring a national-scale identity, provided Penn State surrounds him with a staff built to handle to next phase of his career.
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