Nick Saban breaks silence on coaching return: 'No opportunity that I know of right now that would enhance me'

Nick Saban’s potential return to coaching has been a hot-button issue over the past few weeks. He tried to throw some water on the fire on Friday, though, appearing to shoot down any interest during an appearance on FOX News.

“No, I’m really happy with what I’m doing right now,” Saban stated, regarding a possible return to coaching. “It’s exciting to still be involved in the game.

“It’s exciting for me to work with athletic directors, conference commissioners, people in Congress to preserve the integrity of our game and continue to be able to create opportunities to help young people create value for their future that will help them be successful in their life, which is what we always try to do as a coach.”

While some people see that as a closed door, it might not be so. Saban did appear to leave an open chance that he could still return.

“There is no opportunity that I know of right now that would enhance me to go back to coaching,” Saban said. “I enjoy what I’m doing. I did it for 50 years, I loved it. I loved the relationships with the players. I loved the competition. But it’s another station of life now. I enjoy what I’m doing right now and want to continue to do it — spend more time with my family, my grandchildren, my children. It’s been really, really good.”

That’s a pretty adamant response from the coach regarding the rumors. It all started when ESPN’s Greg McElroy, who played for Saban at Alabama, reported that someone close to the situation believed Saban could return to the sidelines at SEC Media Days. 

However, McElroy and other pundits like Paul Finebaum couldn’t see it happening. Saban currently works as an analyst for ESPN, but the former Alabama quarterback did point 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.”

Saban retired with a record of 292-71-1 and seven national championships. He was the head coach at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama in his career. Saban also had a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns as the DC under Bill Belichick.

Never say never, but Finebaum isn’t exactly convinced there’s anything that’ll get Saban back on the sidelines, and for good reason: “He’s playing at better golf clubs than he’s ever played at and that will continue, because everybody wants Nick Saban to be in their golf club. He’s making a fortune when he decides he wants to make a speech. He’s making a fortune when he shows up on ESPN once a week,” Finebaum added.

“Why would you give all that up at the age of 74? Don’t ask me how I know about things like that, but I hang around a lot of people who are turning 70, and it makes no sense.”

At the end of the day, it’s all up to Nick Saban, and it doesn’t sound like he’s willing to return to the sidelines at the moment. Money and motivation could always change that, but it sounds like there isn’t enough of that to go around right now.

— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.