For a man with seven national championships and regarded by most as the best college football coach of all time, you’d figure legendary coach Nick Saban wouldn’t have many regrets about his career.
But Saban revealed one his biggest mistakes he made in his career, and it could come as a shock to college football fans.
Saban appeared on the “Pivot Podcast” and was asked directly what regrets he had during his coaching journey, and he didn’t hesitate to answer:
He shouldn’t have left LSU (where he won his first national championship) for the NFL.
“When I left LSU, that was probably professionally the biggest mistake that I ever made. Not because we didn’t have success in Miami because I enjoyed coaching in Miami. But I found out in that experience that I like coaching in college better because you could develop players — personally, academically, athletically and all that — a little more than in pro ball. Even though I loved the status of coaching in pro ball and the kind of guys you coach and you’re coaching in the best league against the best players. I loved all that. So, then I can’t go back to LSU. Go to Alabama, and no disrespect to Alabama, it’s not Alabama vs. LSU. Jimmy Sexton stood on the balcony when I was getting ready to leave LSU… and he said, ‘What do you want your legacy to be as a coach? Do you want to be Vince Lombardi or do you want to be Bear Bryant?’ And without hesitation, I said Bear Bryant. And he said, ‘What are you doing going to Miami then?’ That’s true. I don’t know if I ever told that story, but that’s the truth…I went anyway.”
Listen to Saban’s entire interview here:
Nick Saban only has one regret… leaving LSU. Sitting on then LSU athletic Director’s Skip Bertman’s balcony Nick’s agent Jimmy Sexton asked…
“Do you want to be Bear Bryant or Vince Lombardi?”Without hesitation Saban answered “Bear Bryant”. Still, he made the decision to… pic.twitter.com/l6ikTPa9RC
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 21, 2025