The American Football world was rocked on Thursday, following the retirement of two of the sport's most prolific coaches, within hours of each other.
First went Pete Carroll, the long-time Seattle Seahawks coach who spent 14 years with the team, winning the Super Bowl in 2013, as well as having an impressive stint with USC between 2001 and 2009.
But before the dust had settled, it was announced that Nick Saban was also retiring; the seven-time National Championship-winning coach overseeing college football powerhouse Alabama since 2007.
In one day, two of the game's most legendary coaches called it quits, and one Aussie is more familiar with both men than possibly anyone else - former defensive tackle Jesse Williams.
Former Australian NFL player reflects on Saban, Carroll's retirements
Jesse Williams is a former defensive tackle, who played two years for Alabama in college, before being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, making him one of very few players who played under both Saban and Carroll.
Australia’s Jesse Williams won two college football national championships with Nick Saban and won a Super Bowl with Pete Carroll. 🏆🏆🏆
— TAB (@tabcomau) January 11, 2024
Is there anyone more qualified to compare the two departing legends? 🏈@NFLAUNZ #NFL pic.twitter.com/NlJtcNUVJl
According to Williams, both men excelled at achieving their end goals, but went about it in drastically different ways.
"The similarities between Coach Saban and Coach Carroll is they both win," Williams said.
"How they get to that from where they are is almost polar opposites.
"So, Coach Carroll is very [much] a players’ coach. Everything is usually fun, up-tempo. It's heavily about competition and competing with not only yourself but everyone in the room [in] every situation.
"Coach Saban is more discipline-based regime like the military. You clock in. You’re doing your work. You do your job to the absolute best of your ability every time you get the chance.
"And I think players that have played in both, you can see the difference very early on."
Despite the differences in approach, Williams was able to find success under both regimes - he won two college national titles in 2011 and 2012, and was then part of the Seahawks' Super Bowl win in 2013.
