Jul 19, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama head coach Nick Saban talks to the media during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Saban addresses retirement rumors: 'I love what I'm doing right now'

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 7/20/22

There appear to be a lot of things you can say to Nick Saban to put him in a salty mood. One of those things is bringing up when the 70-year-old coach may retire.

The subject was brought up at Tuesday's installment of SEC Media Days and, to no one's surprise, Saban offered a long response. According to the Crimson Tide head coach -- who is one of just two FBS coaches in his 70s and is currently the longest-tenured -- coaches at opposing schools reference his age in order to recruit players away from Alabama.

"I wish you all would ask all the other coaches who come up here -- because they tell the recruits I'm going to retire," Saban said on the SEC Network set. "Ask them how they know I'm going to retire when all I think about is what am I going to do if I retire, because I love what I'm doing now. So how am I going to be happy not coaching?"

Nick Saban on @SECNetwork says other coaches keep telling recruits that he's going to retire, and "I want you to ask them how they know I'm going to retire when all I think about is what I am going to do if I retire. Because I love what I'm doing right now."
— Gentry Estes (@Gentry_Estes) July 19, 2022

Whether other coaches are actually saying that about Saban behind his back is anyone's guess. These days, Saban is in a constant back-and-forth with opposing coaches over everything from recruiting to NIL. The latest public scuffle was between him and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher after Saban claimed that A&M "bought every player" in their recruiting class with NIL deals -- which remains a heavily-debated topic on the college sports front.

“Name, image and likeness is not an issue for us at Alabama and our players, I think, did better than anybody in the country last year.”

Nick Saban speaks on NIL pic.twitter.com/7UJVioAbSm
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 19, 2022

Regardless of who said what about Saban allegedly retiring, it looks like he's very happy at his current job for at least the upcoming college football season.

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