Nick Saban knows a thing or two about what makes a great football player.
In his coaching career, he's guided LSU to a national championship (2003) and Alabama to six (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020). He's also coached in the NFL and has sent 123 (and counting) Crimson Tide players to the pros.
Saban put down his headset after the 2023 season, ending his 50-year career as a head coach. Just three months later, Saban will be picking up a microphone, this time sharing his thoughts on football with the world rather than just those on his sideline. As part of his deal with ESPN, he is going to be one of the network's analysts for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The legendary head coach has made plenty of appearances as a television analyst in the past. He has appeared on "College GameDay" panels for College Football Playoff games if the Crimson Tide were no longer in the mix, and he's been a frequent guest of "The Pat McAfee Show."
Here's what you need to know about Saban's role with ESPN.
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Why is Nick Saban at the 2024 NFL Draft?
It did not take long after Saban announced his retirement for his next step to be lined up. ESPN signed him to a deal to have him on "College GameDay" as a panelist during the season.
“ESPN and College GameDay have played such an important role in the growth of college football, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to join their team,” Saban said in an ESPN release. “I’ll do my best to offer additional insights and perspectives to contribute to College GameDay, the ultimate Saturday tradition for college football fans.”
MORE: Why did Saban join 'College GameDay?'
The network does not want him to stop there. It also wants to have him for the NFL draft. He will be used as a contributor throughout ESPN's multi-day coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft, per the release, giving him his first prime-time broadcasting spot since announcing his retirement in January.
Per another release, he will be appearing on both ESPN and ABC during the three-day event. The release noted he will be at the desk on ABC "offering a coach's perspective" to the group, which will feature usual "College GameDay" members Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and Pete Thamel, as well as NFL draft analyst Field Yates.
Will Nick Saban come out of retirement to coach again?
In this day and age, it's reasonable to wonder when someone retires if they will really stay retired? Sometimes, sports figures will even retire twice and then later still float out the possibility of a return — even when they have a broadcast deal lined up.
But coaching is a little bit different than playing quarterback. There would have to be an opening for Saban to coach, and as things stand, all the top college football vacancies have been filled, including his former post at Alabama.
Saban has appeared to close the door on any chance of retirement, often making strong comments about the state of college football and explaining why he decided to leave coaching in the first place.
There aren't many who have coached past the age of 72, and if Saban signs up for another ride, it would likely be for multiple years. Given that, it all appears there is little to no chance that Saban will coach again.
