Nick Saban’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, has reportedly been trying to draw interest in a potential return to College football for the legendary head coach. Despite that, the former Crimson Tide coach has stayed adamant that he’s refusing to budge from retirement.
Alabama gave Saban an eight-year contract extension in August 2022. However, two years later, the legendary coach made the decision to retire. He is currently working as a pundit during ESPN’s “College Football Gameday.”
Nick Saban Addresses Rumors Of Potential Return.
The former Alabama head coach recently appeared on the “Pat McAfee Show.” During the interview with his ESPN colleague, Saban revealed that his agent has been trying to draw interest. However, he shut down any rumors of a potential return to College Football.
NEW: Nick Saban shoots down any rumors of returning to college coaching:
“I want to stay retired. I do not want (Jimmy Sexton) anywhere near Miss Terry. Because when she hears some of these numbers, she gets interested. And I’m not interested.”
(via @PatMcAfeeShow)… pic.twitter.com/RVxsMZNXNi
— On3 (@On3sports) October 24, 2025
“I want to stay retired. I do not want (Jimmy Sexton) anywhere near Miss Terry. Because when she hears some of these numbers, she gets interested. And I’m not interested.” Saban explained during the show.
According to Sexton’s biography page on Sports Business Journal, Saban’s agent has negotiated over $3.3 billion in NFL contract negotiations. This includes players such as Eli Manning, J.J. Watt, and Matthew Stafford.
Sexton is also the agent of other College Football head coaches. These include the likes of Kirby Smart, Steve Sarkisian, Mike Norvell, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, and current Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Recently, Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti signed a new contract that will run for eight years, and he’ll collect an average of around $11.6 million per year. In total, he’ll make around $92.8 million throughout the duration of his new deal.
Cignetti, 64, was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and national coach of the year by several organizations in 2024. A year later, the head coach is currently undefeated with a 10% chance of reaching the National Championship according to PFSN’s playoff meter.
In comparison, when Alabama gave Saban an eight-year contract extension in August 2022, the Crimson Tide head coach made about $10.7 million a year, placing him behind seven other head coaches in 2025.
The only head coaches making more than Cignetti are Smart and Ohio State’s Ryan Day. Meanwhile, Dan Lanning, Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley, and Steve Sarkisian are all making more than Saban did in 2022.
“I didn’t want to ride the program down. I tried to hire three coaches, and every one of them wanted to know how long I was gonna be there. Every recruit wanted to know how long you’re gonna be here.” Saban explained his decision in 2024.
“When you’re 72 years old, it’s hard to say, ‘I’m gonna be here for the next four years.’ But the question I had for a lot of people is, ‘How long are you gonna be here?’”
Currently, despite his wife’s potential interest in the large figures being pared, Saban appears to be enjoying his retirement, with no plans to return any time soon. However, College Football fans can still catch him on weekends on “College Football GameDay.”
