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Lane Kiffin 'Wouldn't Be Surprised' if Legendary College Coach Returns to NFL

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 3:51 PM ET

Lane Kiffin took a circuitous route in coaching before ending up at Ole Miss. One of the jobs that set him back on the right track was a three-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Alabama under legendary coach Nick Saban.

In Tuscaloosa, he learned plenty about the game of football, but he also learned about life from the recently retired coach. However, Kiffin recently said that he doesn't believe Saban is done coaching.

"He's not gonna sit around and just, you know, be a grandpa, that's not him," Kiffin said. "I wouldn't actually be surprised if he came back in the NFL even, as a head coach, because he's so good at it, it's so in him that I'm not sure he won't come back."

Saban, though mainly known for his incredible run at Alabama, actually coached in the NFL before. After five years at LSU and winning a National Championship in 2003, he took the head job for the Miami Dolphins, earning a 15-17 record in two seasons.

When the Alabama job opened up at the end of 2006, however, Saban jumped at the opportunity to lead the Crimson Tide. He spent 17 seasons at Alabama, winning six National Championships and only losing 26 total games. He produced an incomprehensible number of NFL players and impacted the game in several ways.

After 50 years in coaching, Saban called it quits in 2023, but Kiffin may know him better than most people. Fans should keep their eyes peeled over the next few offseasons if anything materializes, but perhaps more importantly, to see if Kiffin's prediction comes true.

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

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