This coach reveals what it may take for Nick Saban to return to sidelines

Speculation about Nick Saban's future keeps swirling after one of his former players suggested he may return to coaching at SEC media days on Monday.

Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, who played for Saban from 2007-10, said a source has indicated the ESPN analyst may consider coaching again.

Former Ohio State/Florida head coach Urban Meyer, meanwhile, believes Saban would return to the sidelines under one condition.  

"I would say very little to no chance he would get involved in college, but I think he would take phone calls from the NFL," the three-time national champion said Thursday on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" (h/t On3's Thomas Goldkamp).  

It's hard to believe Saban would want to coach in the NFL after an unsuccessful tenure with the Miami Dolphins. 

Saban was Dolphins HC from 2005-06, going 15-17 and making no playoff appearances. After the 2006 season he went to Alabama, where he would win six national championships in 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide.  

Saban, however, has said coaching in the NFL now seems more appealing than in college. 

"I love coaching pro ball, and if I was going to coach today, based on the circumstances in college and the NFL, I would coach in the NFL," the 73-year-old told "The Pivot Podcast" in January.

Saban then explained his final year with Alabama during the 2023 season was draining. 

"Honestly, I felt at the end of the year that, 'You're going to kill yourself doing this,'" he said. "I really did feel that way. It wasn't name, image and likeness. It wasn't the players. I had no issues with any of that. I just really felt like, if you keep working like this, you're going to kill yourself."

Coaching in the NFL would be just as stressful for Saban. Staying at ESPN on "College Gameday" would be much more relaxing. 

Unless a legit report surfaces, take Saban rumors with a grain of salt.