Nick Saban Shuts Down Coaching Rumors with Classic Fire: “He’d’ve Got His A Kicked”**

Nick Saban is retired, but he hasn’t lost an ounce of his edge.

At a recent speaking event, the legendary Alabama head coach—now settling into his second life as a studio analyst—was asked the question everyone keeps poking at: could there be a return to coaching in his future? The rumor mill never sleeps, and when you’ve had the kind of success Saban’s had, people can’t help but wonder if the sidelines are truly behind him.

Saban, sitting comfortably on stage in front of a packed audience, didn’t hesitate. He wasn’t vague. He wasn’t diplomatic. He went full Saban, raw and hilarious, locking in on former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN analyst Greg McElroy as the butt of the joke.

“Greg McElroy played quarterback for us,” Saban said with a grin, “and if he’d’ve done something like that when he was a player, he would have got his a** kicked.”

The room exploded in laughter, and so did the internet shortly after.

It was vintage Nick Saban—direct, dry, brutally honest, and unmistakably funny. But underneath the punchline, there was a real message: Saban has no intention of returning to coaching. And if anyone thinks stirring up rumors will get him back into the headset, well, they’d better be ready to take a metaphorical hit.

For fans who’ve followed Saban’s career, none of this is surprising. He built an empire at Alabama with a style that was both intense and unapologetic. He demanded perfection. He coached hard, won harder, and rarely—if ever—wavered in his approach. Retirement didn’t dull that part of him. If anything, stepping back has given him space to let loose a bit, without losing the bite that made him one of the greatest to ever do it.

What’s made this particular moment resonate, though, is the playful dynamic between Saban and McElroy. The two share a history, and McElroy has often spoken highly of his time under Saban, even when describing how challenging it was. That respect goes both ways, but Saban still relishes the chance to needle his former players—especially those who’ve found themselves in media roles asking questions they once hated answering.

The quote works on a few levels. First, it’s classic locker-room culture. Saban’s “he would’ve got his a** kicked” isn’t meant as malice—it’s a nod to how tight and intense the program was under his watch. If anyone, even a respected leader like McElroy, had stirred up nonsense or let outside talk distract from the mission, they’d have heard about it in no uncertain terms. Saban’s teams weren’t just physically dominant—they were mentally airtight. Drama wasn’t tolerated. Focus was everything.

Second, Saban’s response is a not-so-subtle clapback to the media cycle. Ever since his retirement announcement, people have speculated about whether it’s permanent. You can’t blame them. When someone walks away at the top of their game, after leading a program to unprecedented success, it’s hard to believe they’re really done. But Saban, as he’s shown repeatedly in the months since retiring, seems perfectly content off the sideline. He’s working with ESPN, contributing as an analyst, spending time with his family, playing golf, and mentoring from a distance. The man hasn’t lost his competitive drive—he’s just redirected it.

That doesn’t stop fans and pundits from dreaming. Every time a major program opens up a head coaching job, Saban’s name inevitably bubbles to the surface. Some of it’s trolling, some of it’s wishful thinking, but all of it misses the point. Saban left on his own terms. He wasn’t pushed out. He wasn’t running from anything. He simply decided it was time—and he did so with the clarity and control that defined his entire career.

Still, it’s funny. Because if you follow McElroy’s media work, you know he didn’t actually float the coaching rumor seriously. It was just part of the chatter, the what-ifs, the hypotheticals that make college football so endlessly entertaining. But Saban? He doesn’t care if it’s a joke or a theory—he’ll shut it down anyway. With style.

Watching him on stage, dressed sharp and laughing with the crowd, you couldn’t help but see a man at ease. And that’s perhaps what makes all the rumors so unnecessary. Saban hasn’t hinted at any restlessness. In fact, he’s been refreshingly open about enjoying retirement—especially the lack of 18-hour days, relentless pressure, and the never-ending recruiting cycle.

He’s still deeply connected to the sport. He watches tape. He offers advice. He mentors younger coaches and checks in with former players. But the headset? The sideline? The nonstop scrutiny? That’s in the past. What’s ahead is a role where he still influences the game, still teaches, still motivates—just without having to diagram red-zone plays at 2 a.m.

There’s something else that’s clear in moments like this: Nick Saban loves his players. Even in joking about Greg McElroy, you could hear the pride underneath. He’s not mocking his former quarterback—he’s embracing the bond they share. Saban built a culture where brotherhood meant accountability, and that doesn’t vanish when the games stop. It evolves. He can jab at McElroy because McElroy gets it. Because he lived it.

And for fans? They get to see a new side of Saban—less guarded, more relaxed, still sharp. The competitive fire is still burning, but it’s not consuming him anymore. He’s not chasing wins. He’s chasing impact. And judging by the reaction to this latest viral moment, he’s still got it.

The truth is, Saban doesn’t need to return to coaching to remain relevant. His shadow looms large over college football, and his influence is felt in nearly every program in the country. Coaches copy his methods. Players strive to reach the standard he set. Analysts look to him for perspective. And when he speaks, everyone listens—because they know it’s real.

As for the rumors? Let them swirl. Saban’s already given his answer—and he did it in a way only he could. Quick, biting, memorable. No long-winded statement, no carefully crafted denial. Just a grin and a line that reminded everyone who he is.

“If he’d’ve done something like that when he was a player, he would have got his a** kicked.”

It’s perfect. It’s pure Saban.

And it’s probably the last word anyone needs on whether he’s coming back.

Spoiler alert: he’s not.