Nick Saban advocates for Brian Daboll as next Penn State head coach

Nick Saban didn’t hesitate when asked who should be the next head coach at Penn State. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, Saban openly endorsed former Alabama offensive coordinator and ex–New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll for the vacancy in Happy Valley.

The legendary coach praised Daboll’s résumé, mind and his fit for one of college football’s premier jobs: “I love Brian,” Saban said. “He did a great job here for us as our offensive coordinator. We won the championship with him calling the plays. He’s been in the Super Bowl several times with Bill Belichick and won.

“I think it was a tough situation with the Giants, but he’s a very good coach. He’s a bright guy, a good recruiter, relates to players, a good teacher, good offensive mind. He’ll put together a strong staff. I think that would be an outstanding hire.”

Saban’s confidence carries weight, especially for a coach who has placed numerous former assistants and coordinators into high-profile jobs. But Daboll would be a unique case.

He has never been a college head coach, and his only stint in the collegiate ranks since the 1990s was his one season with Saban in 2017. It certainly works to his favor that Alabama captured the national championship behind his play-calling that season though. After that, he returned to the NFL, emerging as one of the league’s brightest offensive architects.

His early work with the Buffalo Bills, particularly in Josh Allen’s development, helped launch him into the Giants job. In Year 1, he was the toast of New York, winning AP NFL Coach of the Year and leading the team to the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the three seasons that followed were disastrous. The Giants went 11–35 across that span, and Daboll’s tenure effectively collapsed under a myriad of factors. New York finally cut ties, and that’s left him free for the first time in quite awhile.

Meanwhile, Penn State is navigating their own crossroads. After 12 seasons, James Franklin was fired following a collapse highlighted by three straight losses, including upsets to previously winless UCLA and Northwestern.

The Nittany Lions still have major structural advantages, but they need a reset. Their next coach will inherit a program capable of competing quickly if the right leadership arrives.

Nevertheless, Daboll’s candidacy comes with questions. It’s fair to wonder if he thrive without the NFL structure, and whether he’ll embrace modern college realities like NIL and the transfer portal. Additionally, Daboll could view the job as a career pivot or a temporary landing spot, instead of the holy grail.

Still, Saban’s endorsement is a powerful signal. If anyone knows whether Daboll can lead a college program, it’s the man who watched him win a national title and saw firsthand how players responded to his style.

Ultimately, Daboll becoming Penn State’s next head coach may hinge on whether he wants to jump back into the college world and embrace a sport that has changed dramatically since he last coached in it. If he’s willing, and if Saban is right, Penn State might just find an unconventional but promising replacement.