Danny Kanell says Nick Saban could return to coaching after 2025 season
By David Wasson
Published:
As the college football coaching carousel expects to reach maximum velocity in the coming weeks, CBS Sports and Sirius XM college football pundit Danny Kanell weighed in Saturday about a possible return to the sideline for Nick Saban.
Kanell said he would not “rule out” a return to the sidelines for Saban and said he expects “several schools” will “make a run at him” this cycle.
Saban, who retired from coaching in 2024 after a storied 17-year stint at Alabama that included 6 national championships and 9 SEC titles, has been working for ESPN on their College GameDay crew. Saban hung up his whistle having compiled a 292–71–1 collegiate record, and he also won 2 SEC titles and a national title at LSU.
Speculation about Saban returning to coaching has swirled pretty much since he departed Alabama — with a wave of fresh conjecture cresting and dissipating during SEC Media Days in July 2025.
Kanell, a former Florida State quarterback with 6 seasons of NFL playing experience, seemingly was pointing toward a potential opening at Florida should the Gators move on from Billy Napier at some point this season. There are also high-profile openings already at Penn State following the firing of James Franklin, and openings as well at Arkansas, Oklahoma State, UCLA and Virginia Tech. In addition to Napier’s hot seat in Gainesville, Luke Fickell could be on thin ice at Wisconsin.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
