College football fans hoping for a Nick Saban comeback can stop holding their breath.
As Athlon Sports noted, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit made it clear during a recent episode of the Nonstop podcast that Saban is perfectly happy in retirement and isnât coming back to coaching anytime soon.
âYou couldnât pull Nick Saban off the GameDay desk,â Herbstreit said.Â
âYou got to stop bringing up Nick Saban for all these coaching spots. Heâs not going anywhere. My man is enjoying his life.”
“He told me, âFor 50 years, Iâve been in a hurry. Iâve been late to something.â Now, heâs got car dealerships, heâs on a boat, heâs golfing.âÂ
Saban joined ESPNâs College GameDay in 2024 after stepping down from Alabama, and despite rumors linking him to multiple new job openings, Herbstreit makes it clear that Sabanâs post-football lifestyle is too good to give up.
Rumors Link Saban to Penn State and LSU
Over the past month, rumors reignited when two major college programs, Penn State and LSU, suddenly found themselves without head coaches.Â
Penn State fired James Franklin on Oct. 12 following a brutal three-game skid against Oregon, UCLA, and Northwestern.Â
The firing came with a massive $49.7 million buyout, leaving the program searching for a big name to stabilize the program.Â
Almost immediately, speculation pointed toward Saban as a dream candidate.
Then came LSU, where Saban won his first national title back in 2003.Â
After the Tigers fired Brian Kelly following a blowout home loss to Texas A&M, rumors of Saban returning to Baton Rouge began to swirl.Â
LSU alum Shaquille OâNeal even added fuel to the fire:Â
âI heard through the grapevine that they were having conversations with Nick Saban,â OâNeal told Us Weekly. âThatâd be awesome if we can bring Nick back.â
Despite all the noise, Herbstreit put the rumors to rest.Â
He said Saban isnât entertaining offers, emphasizing that the 73-year-old is focused on enjoying the simple things, golf, family, and his new role in broadcasting.Â
Sabanâs Legacy Remains Untouchable
Even without returning to the sideline, Nick Sabanâs legacy is already set in stone.
He retired as the most successful coach in modern college football history, posting a 292-71-1 career record and winning seven national championships, six with Alabama and one with LSU.
He also produced 44 first-round NFL draft picks over his career.Â
Now, instead of chasing more trophies, Saban is chasing a different kind of happiness.
As Herbstreit relayed, the coaching legend is embracing a much simpler and less stressful life, and he has no plans to change that.Â
For college football fans still dreaming of one more run, Herbstreitâs message is clear: Nick Saban isnât coming back.Â
Heâs already conquered the sport, and now heâs finally at peace off the field.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Kirk Herbstreit Shuts Down Nick Saban Coaching Rumors appeared first on Heavy Sports.