The greatest college football coach of all-time is retiring. Alabama head coach Nick Saban has decided to call it a career. Saban retires with seven national championships. He won one national title at LSU before winning six with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Saban’s retirement comes ahead of the dramatic changes to the college football landscape for the 2024 season. The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams, and the SEC is adding Texas and Oklahoma.
Saban has an extensive coaching tree., ensuring his legacy will live on.
College football teams feared playing Alabama, which embarrassed countless teams on the biggest stages. Perhaps Saban’s most notable former assistant is Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart, who was the defensive coordinator under Nick Saban for four of Alabama’s national championships.
It wasn’t until the 2021 college football season that Georgia was finally able to get the better of Nick Saban and Alabama. The Bulldogs have many painful losses over the years to the Crimson Tide, but it made Georgia’s 2021 and 2022 national championships that much sweeter. The Bulldogs are poised to be college football’s next dynasty.
Georgia football fans and members of the college football media were shocked after Saban announced his retirement:
End of a legendary career
Nick Saban Career Overview:
🐐 292 Career Wins
🐐 7 National Championships
🐐 11 SEC Championships
🐐 2X Coach of the YearWhat a career👏 pic.twitter.com/5w6qZLTfy2
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 10, 2024
Report of Nick Saban's retirement
One of the greatest runs in college football history is over. Nick Saban informed his team today that he's retiring, sources tell ESPN. He won six national championships at Alabama and one at LSU.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) January 10, 2024
This is going to be an epic game!
First SEC game for Alabama’s new hire?
Versus Georgia, in Tuscaloosa, at night https://t.co/nUWV41BKPN
— Jed May (@JedMay_) January 10, 2024
Alabama will land a great coach
Used AI to make some images of possible head coach hires at Alabama pic.twitter.com/VfsUCkc0b9
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 10, 2024
UGA's turn to be the dynasty?
Kirby Smart rn 😂 pic.twitter.com/UfRZTJi68k
— UGA Savage Pads (@savagepads) January 10, 2024
Alabama could hire (almost) anybody
Alabama HC job opening up is the best open job since………?
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 10, 2024
Lots of Alabama players could hit the portal
Transfer portal window for Alabama players is now open for another 30 days with Nick Saban's retirement. Most attractive roster in the sport, too.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 10, 2024
Kirby Smart to Alabama? Not so fast
If you thought the Kirby Smart to the Falcons rumors were bad, just wait until the Kirby Smart to Alabam rumors go full speed.
— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) January 10, 2024
Aaron Murray congratulates Nick Saban
Congrats to Nick Saban on an incredible career!
— Aaron Murray (@aaronmurray11) January 10, 2024
Saban and Alabama beat Georgia and Murray in the 2012 SEC championship.
Saban's last pregame meeting with Kirby Smart
"You're a hell of a coach."
Kirby Smart to Nick Saban before the 2023 SEC Championship 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/sgnWkfDfq5
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 10, 2024
Saban calls it a career at 72
BREAKING: Nick Saban is retiring, per source. The 72-year-old Alabama coach has won SEVEN national titles, six with the Tide. Chris Low first reported the news.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 10, 2024
Saban's last game, play
Nick Saban’s final play pic.twitter.com/JAQhLaReEr
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 10, 2024
Build him a statue! Wait, he already has one
Took a pic of Nick Saban’s statue when I went to the Texas at Alabama game this season with @clarencehilljr (Carroll & Saban on the same day) pic.twitter.com/2aMEGXsSym
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) January 10, 2024
Alabama will miss Nick Saban
Difficult day for Bama…had to know this day would be coming. Coach Saban was special. @680TheFan
— buck belue (@buckbelue8) January 10, 2024
Alabama could target former UGA defensive coordinator
*Dan Lanning https://t.co/GByQBaNYh7
— Aaron Murray (@aaronmurray11) January 10, 2024
SEC Network reaction
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 10, 2024
CBS floats three potential replacements
Dabo Swinney?
Dan Lanning?
Kalen DeBoer?"I think out of those three, you're going to get the next coach at Alabama." – @dennisdoddcbs pic.twitter.com/8Sawr0A4ZX
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 10, 2024
Lanning reported as a top target
Alabama’s Nick Saban is retiring, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. 1st reported by@ClowESPN. Oregon’s Dan Lanning expected to be top target to replace Saban, source told @ActionNetworkHQ
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 10, 2024
