Kirk Herbstreit sets the record straight on Nick Saban's coaching future

Kirk Herbstreit is on a mission to end the latest round of speculation that Nick Saban could return to coaching in college football. 

The ESPN analyst explained his position on behalf the seven-time national champion coach and now his direct colleague. Needless to say, he's not entertaining any comeback talks, even as rumors continue to swirl during a busy coaching carousel. 

“You couldn’t pull Nick Saban off the GameDay desk,” Herbstreit said on his “Nonstop” podcast. “Guys, you’ve got to stop bringing up Nick Saban for all these. He’s not going anywhere. My man is enjoying his life.”

Coach is living the good life 🏌️‍♂️🚤 #nonstop pic.twitter.com/ma6CmKTd4e

Saban, 74, is content with his new routine and has repeatedly talked about slowing down after decades on the sidelines. The Alabama legend himself addressed the chatter during last weekend’s College GameDay, telling panelists, “I like my team right here,” when teased about the open jobs, including the one at LSU.

While getting Saban in a conversation about his future is nice, we must remember why he left the game to begin with. Many changes behind the scenes, including NIL negotiations and paying the players. There's too much at stake that Saban doesn't care to be a part of the madness. 

Saban retired from Alabama in 2024 and joined ESPN’s College GameDay that spring. He has since become a fixture on Saturdays, and by all accounts, he’s staying put right where he's at.

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