Kirby Smart Jokes About Nick Saban at SEC Media Days

The biggest headline from SEC Media Days wasn’t a quarterback battle—it was a joke about the most legendary coach in college football history.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart had a playful response when asked Tuesday about speculation that former Alabama coach Nick Saban might return to the sideline.

“I called him and offered him (Will) Muschamp's job, but he was overqualified,” Smart said with a grin.

The quip came as rumors swirled thanks to ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, who earlier in the week said he spoke to someone who believed Saban might not be done coaching.

Muschamp went from Georgia's defensive coordinator to an analyst last year, but he wasn't included in the team's media guide - a simple mistake, according to Smart.

Saban stepped away from Alabama in January of 2024 and now works as an analyst for ESPN.

Smart, who spent over a decade working under Saban at LSU, the Miami Dolphins and Alabama, isn’t buying it.

“That’s not happening. I don’t think Nick’s coming back,” he said. “I think he’s too happy where he is. I think y’all are lacking buzz and they needed some buzz yesterday. That was the only thing that could generate some buzz besides Lane and Hugh’s feud over the internet.”