Nick Saban, the legendary coach who turned Alabama football into a dynasty, recently made a shocking admission that could make even the most loyal Crimson Tide fan stop and think. During an appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Saban revealed a major regret from his coaching career: he wishes he hadn’t left LSU for the Miami Dolphins.
While Saban’s tenure with LSU was marked by immense success, including a national championship, his decision to move to the NFL was, in his own words, the “biggest mistake” of his career. Reflecting on his time with the Miami Dolphins, Saban explained that he discovered he preferred college coaching, where he had the opportunity to shape players not just athletically, but also personally and academically.
The pivotal moment came when his agent, Jimmy Sexton, stood by Saban as he contemplated the future. Sexton posed a question that would forever shape Saban’s path: “What do you want your legacy to be as a coach? Do you want to be Vince Lombardi or Bear Bryant?” Without hesitation, Saban chose Bryant, leading him to eventually return to college football, this time in Tuscaloosa, where he would transform Alabama into a powerhouse.
The decision to move back to college paid off, as Saban’s six national championships at Alabama cemented his status as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport. However, one can’t help but wonder how different the landscape of college football would have been if Saban had stayed with LSU. It’s likely Alabama would have never experienced the unprecedented success it saw under Saban’s leadership, and the Crimson Tide would still be searching for a successor to Bear Bryant’s legacy.
Saban’s journey is a reminder that even legends have their doubts. And while we’ll never know for sure how different things might have been, one thing’s for certain: Alabama fans are forever grateful that Saban’s return to college football led him to the Crimson Tide.