Skip to main content
Alabama

Kalen DeBoer reacts to possibility of Nick Saban returning to coaching

1918632_10206777287683070_1367905321192383146_nby: Charlie Potter07/16/25Charlie_Potter
Alabama coaches Kalen DeBoer and Nick Saban
Alabama coaches Kalen DeBoer and Nick Saban (Courtesy of UA Athletics)

ATLANTA – Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy made headlines on Monday, the first day of 2025 SEC Football Media Days, by suggesting Nick Saban could return to coaching.

“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,” said McElroy on WJOX FM. “He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again.”

McElroy has since tried to walk back his comments, whether on the set of SEC Now or during interviews with various outlets on radio row. But his initial quote blew up on Monday and made its way to coach Kalen DeBoer’s press conference in the electronic media room.

Saban announced his retirement last January after 17 seasons at Alabama, and DeBoer was hired as his replacement. Since he was introduced on January 12, DeBoer has fielded a variety of Saban-related questions, and he couldn’t escape his second SEC Media Days without being asked about the legendary head coach he followed after in Tuscaloosa.

What does DeBoer think of a possible return to coaching, be it college or NFL, for Saban?

“He’s one of the greatest to ever do it,” DeBoer said on Wednesday. “So, he’s earned the right to do what he wants. I think the best part about what Coach Saban’s doing right now is that he’s still involved in the game. He’s growing the game. He brings passion to it. 

“I enjoy, when I get moments, on a Saturday morning, maybe we’ve got a night game, flipping on the TV and seeing not just him but the whole group, GameDay, with all the different ways they break things down. Having a chance to see him once in a while, you can just feel that he still has that love for the game. 

“And I think that my sense is that he’s enjoyed doing it for the capacity he’s doing it right now. But I think everyone who is close to him and from a fanbase standpoint can’t help but want him to be happy doing whatever he wants to do.”

Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!

Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting, and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!

You may also like