Nick Saban explains how Drew Brees’ failed physical, NFL restrictions drove him back to college football
Published:
Nick Saban left the LSU Tigers for the Miami Dolphins after the 2004 season to take on a new challenge. A BCS National Championship winner, he figured he’d try to double-up and snag a Super Bowl. He returned to college football after two seasons in South Beach, in part, because of how the NFL operates.
Speaking on Mad Dog Sports Radio, Saban revealed Miami missing out on Drew Brees impacted his decision to leave the NFL.
“We had the opportunity to get Drew Brees… our doctors were skeptical because of this injury, so they didn’t pass him on the physical,” Saban told Chris Russo. “We had to trade for [Daunte] Culpepper… he was coming off injury, too… and was never fully recovered.”
Saban also attributed his decision, in part, to the difficulties of building a roster while navigating a salary cap.
“[I] learned that you could impact your destiny in college, because if you worked hard, you could recruit 25 players every year, change the roster,” Saban said. “You didn’t have all these restrictions of salary cap, how many draft picks you had… that’s why [I] went back to college.”
Six national championships at Alabama later, it’s safe to say Saban’s move worked out.
