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Nick Saban retires: College football world reacts to end of an era at Alabama
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Nick Saban will not be coaching the Alabama Crimson Tide when the 2024 season opens.
ESPN’s Chris Low broke the news on Wednesday that Saban is retiring after his 17th season as the head coach of the Crimson Tide. He began his coaching career in 1990 at Toledo and in the two-plus decades since, he has 297 career wins — the fifth-most all-time — and seven national championships.
Since moving to Tuscaloosa in 2007, Saban has won six national titles to cement himself as arguably the greatest college football coach ever. He’s a two-time Bear Bryant Award winner, a two-time AP Coach of the Year, a five-time SEC Coach of the Year, and has coached 45 consensus All-Americans.
Related: How Alabama pulled off the great heist of Nick Saban
With Saban stepping away from the sport, the new-look SEC suddenly gets even more interesting in 2024. But beyond the Southeastern Conference, Saban’s retirement will send ripples throughout all of college football. Given Alabama’s pedigree, the Crimson Tide could feasibly hire anyone.
His influence on the sport is wide-reaching. And fans were stunned to learn of his retirement on Wednesday. Here’s some of the reaction on social media:
Nick Saban is retiring, sources tell ESPN. He won six national titles at Alabama.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) January 10, 2024
One of the greatest runs in college football history is over. Nick Saban informed his team today that he's retiring, sources tell ESPN. He won six national championships at Alabama and one at LSU.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) January 10, 2024
The last play of the Nick Saban era at Alabama. pic.twitter.com/JGnOs49Cug
— Josh 〽️ (@UMFanJosh) January 10, 2024
Kirby knew Saban was finished. pic.twitter.com/T5l1S4tNKD
— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) January 10, 2024
Kirby laid down for Alabama and Saban in the final game.
Ultimate respect.
— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban told me he’s retiring pic.twitter.com/rBeaf67xJW
— ?? Sickos Committee ?? (@SickosCommittee) January 10, 2024
nick saban is the greatest coach of all time
he won national championships in every way that you can with run-heavy defensive-led teams and pass-happy, offensive-led teams
his ability to not only adapt but stay ahead of the curve was always very impressive
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) January 10, 2024
Is Alabama the biggest job in college football? Being Nick Saban's successor is certainly the most daunting.
— Matt Reynoldson (@Matt_Reynoldson) January 10, 2024
Crazy Alabama had the two best college football coaches of all team. You couldn’t replace Bear Bryant like you can’t replace Nick Saban. But Alabama is a marquee job, so they can get anyone they want basically. But I don’t envy anyone coming after Saban.
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) January 10, 2024
Alabama fans when they found out that Nick Saban is retiring pic.twitter.com/mmTb4xmWac
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) January 10, 2024
It's still a shock to read Nick Saban is retiring as a headline but it's not surprising.
An absolute legend and one of the best to ever do it. pic.twitter.com/I1Z7w4gv5h
— Justin Hopkins (@JHopkinsSD) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban’s retirement MASSIVELY shifts the College Football Landscape.
• A Head Coach from a major program will take his spot (Kiffin, Dabo, etc)
• Who will be the new superpowers? (Georgia, and who else?)
• Alabama is ALWAYS in the mix, can they continue to do the same?… pic.twitter.com/hnonk5Q02O
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 10, 2024
“Coach, will you come back for one more year?”
SABAN: pic.twitter.com/g0xxygIMVH
— Korked Bats (@korkedbats) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban retiring is one of those things that will affect every other major college program. Very few people have that kind of impact on the sport and it changes the entire scope of the new SEC.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 10, 2024
Absolutely historic run. Thank you for everything Coach Saban. Best run in the history of college football. Unquestionably the best to ever do it
— Austin Randolph (@austinsrandolph) January 10, 2024
There’s a world where Nick Saban and Bill Belichick leave coaching in the same week and just spend the rest of their days together talking football at Saban’s lake house.
I like the sound of that world. pic.twitter.com/RUrT9qd3wX
— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban retiring is one of those moments in your sports life that can change the entire trajectory of a sport. Alabama’s been a top 3 program every single year since 2009.
Now, it opens up a ton of opportunities for other programs to take a leap, while Alabama is now set…
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) January 10, 2024
College football's greatest coach of all-time is retiring.
Bravo, Nick Saban.
My first call, if I'm Alabama, would be Lane Kiffin.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) January 10, 2024
"Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people. So if everybody doesn’t buy-in to the same principles and values of the organization at the same high standard, you’re never going to be successful."
– Nick Saban pic.twitter.com/9HNaY0QrPU
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban to his team at halftime of the Rose Bowl pic.twitter.com/KvoNdc7eZf
— cristilmethod (@cristilmethod) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban has officially retired
Thank you for everything you’ve done for the University of Alabama ?❤️
You’re the GOAT ? pic.twitter.com/5eruHx8Rjb
— Alabama DieHards (@DiehardsAlabama) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban. My coach. My governor. My GOAT ? Thanks for 17 years of pride and excellence @AlabamaFTBL ? pic.twitter.com/oEIWVSt5eJ
— Geechi ? (@ThatDakari) January 10, 2024
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
