Nick Saban stepped away from Alabama after 17 legendary seasons in January 2024, but retirement might not be permanent. While fans miss his intensity and analysts fuel comeback speculation, the whispers aren’t about college football. They’re about the NFL. The question isn’t whether Saban could succeed at the professional level, but whether he’d accept the constraints that come with it.
Why Is Colin Cowherd Pushing Nick Saban to Cleveland Browns?
Despite Saban offering no hints about an NFL comeback, Colin Cowherd refuses to let the speculation die.
In a recent episode of “The Colin Cowherd Podcast,” the outspoken analyst doubled down on the idea that Saban could return to the pros. Not just anywhere, but specifically to the Cleveland Browns.
According to Cowherd, the logic makes sense. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has a track record of spending big to chase wins. With a franchise valued at $5.15 billion per Forbes, bringing in a living legend like Saban could skyrocket the team’s visibility, fan engagement, and brand power.
Cowherd even threw out specific numbers: five years, $75 million. That’s a contract big enough to pull Saban off the golf course, out of ESPN’s college football studio, and back onto NFL sidelines.
However, not everyone’s buying the hype. On the same episode, “3 & Out” host John Middlekauff pushed back hard.
Middlekauff argued that Saban, who famously values total control, would likely be turned off by the NFL’s power structure. Owners and general managers call the shots, and Haslam is hardly the type to stay on the sidelines.
Middlekauff even pointed to Bill Belichick as a cautionary tale: a legendary coach who finds college football more appealing post-Patriots because it offers full autonomy, something NFL teams rarely provide.
“Here’s the thing, Belichick is a good example. The NFL kind of turned on him, and he was open to college. He claims the NIL, and obviously, that’s an aspect, they’re comfortable. No one tells you what to do in college. When you become the football coach, you’re basically the owner, if it was like the equivalent of the NFL,” Middlekauff said.
“Nick Saban has answered to nobody for 15+ years. I mean, by year two or three at Alabama, when he won, he answered to nobody. In the NFL, you know, the AD and the recruiting is not sitting behind you on a chair looking over your shoulder.”
What Would Saban Give Up by Leaving His Alabama Legacy?
At Alabama, Saban wasn’t just the head coach. He was the CEO. He called every shot, from recruiting strategy and assistant hires to training regimens and media policy. The results speak for themselves.
Over 17 seasons, Saban won six national championships, nine SEC titles, and sent 47 players to the NFL as first-round picks. He compiled a 206–29 record and cemented his legacy as arguably the greatest college football coach ever.
If he truly is eyeing an NFL return, expectations will be sky-high. Fans will expect the same relentless excellence he brought to Tuscaloosa.
But here’s the reality check: the NFL’s culture of top-down micromanagement could keep Saban on the sidelines, away from a league many hope he’ll enter. For a man used to running the entire show, handing over even a little control might be the ultimate deal-breaker.
