Kirby Smart shares thoughts on potential Nick Saban coaching return

Saban unexpectedly retired in January 2024 after 17 seasons as head coach at Alabama, where he won six national titles. Last fall, he worked as an ESPN college football analyst, including weekly "College GameDay" appearances.

It's no surprise that Terry, Saban's wife of over half a century, would have to be okay with her husband's return to a football sideline.

In an ESPN profile in March 2024, Chris Low wrote, "Saban has often joked that his wife of 52 years, Terry, was the family member most proficient at giving orders."

"We all are enjoying this new reality of more time, more choices and less stress," Terry said.

On Monday, ESPN college football analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said during his morning radio show with Cole Cubelic that someone he has "a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around...He's pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again." (h/t 247Sports)

Later Monday, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who spent three seasons as Alabama offensive coordinator (2014-16), revealed he also anticipates Saban will make a return to coaching.

"I kind of thought it would happen after one year," Kiffin said.

But if Smart, who served on Saban's Alabama staff from 2007-15, is correct, it won't happen unless Terry signs off on it first.