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Lane Kiffin Makes Bold Prediction About Nick Saban Amid Return Rumors

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 4:53 PM ET

SEC Media Days opened at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta on Monday, marking the unofficial start of the 2025 college football season. Among the head coaches taking the podium first was Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss, who added a surprising wrinkle to the week’s talking points.

Prior to arriving at Ole Miss in 2019, Kiffin served as head coach at Tennessee (2009), USC (2010-13) and Florida Atlantic (2017-19), as well as a brief stint as the youngest head coach in modern NFL history with the Oakland Raiders (2007-08).

He also joined Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2014 to 2016, where he helped engineer the Crimson Tide’s high‑octane offense en route to the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship.

When asked about the possibility of his former boss Saban returning to coaching, Kiffin said, "He’s not going to need me to hire him. I don’t think he’s done. I think he’ll be back. Whether that’s college or NFL, I think he’ll be back," per Clarion Ledger.

Saban, 73, retired from coaching on January 10, 2024, concluding a 17‑season tenure at Alabama and a 28‑year head college coaching career that included stints at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama, as well as two seasons with the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history, Saban won seven national championships, one with LSU and six with Alabama and claimed 11 SEC titles during his time in Tuscaloosa.

Since stepping away from the sideline, Saban has transitioned smoothly into broadcasting, joining ESPN as a College GameDay analyst immediately following his retirement.

Despite his comfortable post‑coaching life, speculation about Saban’s next move has continued to swirl.

During SEC Media Days on Monday, former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy also told reporters he had heard from "a person very much in the know" that Saban "is not done coaching."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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