I read an article where former Bama QB McElroy said he heard from someone reliable that Saban was interested in returning to coaching. What if this is Stoops' last year like some believe. Just maybe......
Saban Interested in coaching again
- Thread starter Littlecreek10
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40-0, Baby!Saban to UK?
He's probably passed his prime a bit...but UK would be foolish to not at least try to get him. A passed his prime Saban is still probably an above average coach.
....I mean I hope we have a good season. BUT, if Mitch Barnhart grows a pair and at least contacts him about the job. It'll be interesting.
I don't think Saban would take a chance on tarnishing his image and status with Bama fans by coaching in the SEC again where he would have to play against his former team occasionally. If he were to return I suspect he might land in a well resourced B1G team
I do not disagree, but it seems Saban has never been concerned about pissing people off. LSU is the example (post-NFL failure). That said, he's got a good gig and is a Tuscaloosa icon.
Then again, McAfee could drive many to coach again!
Reality is he left because of what college football became. It has only gotten worse since. I don't see it happening at the NCAA level.
I think it would be at a small level. Something where he actually coaches and doesn't have to deal with the bs that drove him to step away.
Why? We already have the best coach this school has ever had
Saban will be 74 on October 31st. He would be oldest college football coach and the second-oldest NFL coach, should he decide to come back.
Pete Carroll will be 74 on September 15th, so he is a month-and-a-half older than Saban.
www.profootballnetwork.com
Pete Carroll will be 74 on September 15th, so he is a month-and-a-half older than Saban.
Ranking Oldest College Football Coaches in 2025
| Coach | Team | Age (Birthday) |
| Bill Belichick | North Carolina | 73 (April 16, 1952) |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | 69 (Aug. 1, 1955) |
| K.C. Keeler | Temple | 65 (July 26, 1959) |
| Kyle Whittingham | Utah | 65 (Nov. 21, 1959) |
| Willie Fritz | Houston | 65 (Apr. 2, 1960) |
| Curt Cignetti | Indiana | 64 (June 2, 1961) |
| Brian Kelly | LSU | 63 (Oct. 25, 1961) |
| Jim Mora | UConn | 63 (Nov. 19, 1961) |
| Sam Pittman | Arkansas | 63 (Nov. 28, 1961) |
| Jay Norvell | Colorado State | 62 (March 28, 1963) |
| Rich Rodriguez | West Virginia | 62 (May 24, 1963) |
| Lance Leipold | Kansas | 61 (May 6, 1964) |
| Ken Niumatalolo | San Jose State | 60 (May 8, 1965) |
| Tim Albin | Charlotte | 59 (Sept. 13, 1965) |
| Bronco Mendenhall | Utah State | 59 (Feb. 21, 1966) |
| Tim Beck | Coastal Carolina | 59 (March 14, 1966) |
| Pat Narduzzi | Pittsburgh | 59 (April 22, 1966) |
| Greg Schiano | Rutgers | 59 (June 1, 1966) |
| Troy Calhoun | Air Force | 58 (Sept. 26, 1966) |
NFL Head Coaches by Age: Where Do New Head Coach Hires Pete Carroll, Kellen Moore, and Others Rank In Oldest To Youngest List?
NFL head coaches range from grizzled veterans with decades of experience to the new kids on the block ready to take the league by storm.
www.profootballnetwork.com
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He just doesn't seem that old to me, but I am a few months from 58 myself and I can hardly comprehend that. My older body has to remind my younger mind of that more oftsn.Saban will be 74 on October 31st. He would be oldest college football coach and the second-oldest NFL coach, should he decide to come back.
Pete Carroll will be 74 on September 15th, so he is a month-and-a-half older than Saban.
Ranking Oldest College Football Coaches in 2025
Coach Team Age (Birthday) Bill Belichick North Carolina 73 (April 16, 1952) Kirk Ferentz Iowa 69 (Aug. 1, 1955) K.C. Keeler Temple 65 (July 26, 1959) Kyle Whittingham Utah 65 (Nov. 21, 1959) Willie Fritz Houston 65 (Apr. 2, 1960) Curt Cignetti Indiana 64 (June 2, 1961) Brian Kelly LSU 63 (Oct. 25, 1961) Jim Mora UConn 63 (Nov. 19, 1961) Sam Pittman Arkansas 63 (Nov. 28, 1961) Jay Norvell Colorado State 62 (March 28, 1963) Rich Rodriguez West Virginia 62 (May 24, 1963) Lance Leipold Kansas 61 (May 6, 1964) Ken Niumatalolo San Jose State 60 (May 8, 1965) Tim Albin Charlotte 59 (Sept. 13, 1965) Bronco Mendenhall Utah State 59 (Feb. 21, 1966) Tim Beck Coastal Carolina 59 (March 14, 1966) Pat Narduzzi Pittsburgh 59 (April 22, 1966) Greg Schiano Rutgers 59 (June 1, 1966) Troy Calhoun Air Force 58 (Sept. 26, 1966) NFL Head Coaches by Age: Where Do New Head Coach Hires Pete Carroll, Kellen Moore, and Others Rank In Oldest To Youngest List?
NFL head coaches range from grizzled veterans with decades of experience to the new kids on the block ready to take the league by storm.
It would be something if DeBoar washed out, Saban came back to Bama, wins a title, and then retires again.
Saban was against NIL from the start and very outspoken about it, doubt very seriously he’d ever jump back into the headache of managing a P5 roster in this era.
That isn’t true. Read the espn article about marylands coach. He said he lost his locker room because he couldn’t how to divide the money they had and keep everyone happy.
So many things wrong with this scenario.
I'm assuming Manning is number one draft pick to entice Saban. He's never started full season, so doubt that. If he is number one, that means Cleveland is the worst team in nfl. Doubt Saban wants to come back for that. Manning's have a history of staying away from bad ownership and QB situations. Cleveland QB merry go round is the worst of them all.
Not sure that is relevant. I listen to Stoops and he says things are much more clear now and he sees the future being less unstable. Not sure Maryland’s coach is a good comparator for Saban.
This has nothing to do with comparing any coach to Saban. His main problem was free agency, then managing NIL on top of that. Stoops just lost 31 though many didn’t play. Then added 26 plus the freshman. There is constant roster turnover everywhere. I don’t think Stoops is a good comparator to prove your point
That was what it was blamed on. The guy is over 70. I remember it being brought up several times on when we would retire. The articles at the time blamed it on the complete open transfers ruling and NIl. Along with just getting old. Bama had paid players for years, so why would them making it legal cause him to quit.
I think in part he knew he’d have to work a lot harder to stay on top without his three deep roster that dominated for years, any school that had a lot of donor money leveled the playing field with bama. He’d still be the best coach in the SEC though which would have gone a long way imo.
It won’t shock me if Nick came out of retirement, and coached 3-4 more seasons.
Bill Snyder retired at age 66, after coaching Kansas St for 17 seasons.
He came out of retirement at age 69, and coached Kansas St for another 10 seasons.
Bill Snyder retired at age 66, after coaching Kansas St for 17 seasons.
He came out of retirement at age 69, and coached Kansas St for another 10 seasons.
I mean the man has done one thing his whole life and he was pretty much the best at it.
Folks don’t seem to understand how hard it is to just give that up.
Forget major sports, the money, thrill, etc…how many old timers do we all know who “retired” but they’re working harder to stay busy in “retirement” than they ever worked.
Some of you all are said old timers I’ll bet. If you aren’t working some sort of gig at least part time post your retirement, you are up and at it piddling around finding **** to do.
I wouldn’t be totally against him coming back. Folks seem to think it’s NFL but I’m not sold. “Well he does not like NIL and new era stuff…”
Oh so he doesn’t like the professionalization of things so he’s going to go coach in the penultimate professional organization.
Kids making couple million too much. Adults making multi tens of millions is what he wants?
He tried that. A kid will still listen to him. A superstar max contract will tell him to f$&k off, sit out of practice, and vote to work less at the next CBA.
He’s king of the castle in CFB. He’s got GMs, ownership, and stars to deal with in pros.
I think he’s probably fielding offers from both. He’ll have his pick. The perfect NFL gig, sure. But I wouldn’t totally rule out a big boy P4. A program that’s willing to spend on the infrastructure around him to where he wouldn’t have to deal with all the BS.
Folks don’t seem to understand how hard it is to just give that up.
Forget major sports, the money, thrill, etc…how many old timers do we all know who “retired” but they’re working harder to stay busy in “retirement” than they ever worked.
Some of you all are said old timers I’ll bet. If you aren’t working some sort of gig at least part time post your retirement, you are up and at it piddling around finding **** to do.
I wouldn’t be totally against him coming back. Folks seem to think it’s NFL but I’m not sold. “Well he does not like NIL and new era stuff…”
Oh so he doesn’t like the professionalization of things so he’s going to go coach in the penultimate professional organization.
Kids making couple million too much. Adults making multi tens of millions is what he wants?
He tried that. A kid will still listen to him. A superstar max contract will tell him to f$&k off, sit out of practice, and vote to work less at the next CBA.
He’s king of the castle in CFB. He’s got GMs, ownership, and stars to deal with in pros.
I think he’s probably fielding offers from both. He’ll have his pick. The perfect NFL gig, sure. But I wouldn’t totally rule out a big boy P4. A program that’s willing to spend on the infrastructure around him to where he wouldn’t have to deal with all the BS.
But Bama players were continually given cash and cars. He did ok managing the program then.