Nick Saban may have retired from the sidelines, but his presence still looms large over the college football world — and rumors of a possible return are gaining steam. But if the legendary coach does have dreams of coaching again, there’s one opponent he may not be able to outscheme: Miss Terry. According to Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, Saban’s wife — the real “head coach” at home — holds the whistle on whether he ever returns to the gridiron. And if Smart’s latest comments are any indication, the GOAT may not be as far removed from football as people think.
SEC Media Days always promise fireworks, but the 2025 edition in Atlanta delivered a particularly juicy spark — and it came in the form of a bombshell rumor about college football’s most iconic figure. Former Alabama quarterback and ESPN analyst Greg McElroy lit the fuse on Day 1 when he told listeners on WJOX that he’d heard from a source who believes Nick Saban isn’t done with coaching.
According to McElroy, the 72-year-old Hall of Famer, who announced his retirement after the 2024 season, still has a fire to return to the sidelines. That single remark sent shockwaves through the media room, quickly becoming the hottest question for nearly every coach to address at the podium.
On Tuesday, all eyes turned to Kirby Smart, the Georgia Bulldogs head coach and former Saban assistant, for his reaction. Smart delivered a memorable, humorous — yet insightful — response.
“Make no mistake, the boss at home is gonna make that call for him, not him,” Smart said with a smile, referring to Saban’s wife, Miss Terry Saban, long known as the most influential voice behind the scenes of her husband’s legendary coaching career.
While the quip got laughs, Smart followed up with deep respect and admiration for his mentor and former boss.
“The game is better with him involved and he is passionate about it,” Smart said. “He and I still talk and share ideas from time to time about defensive philosophies and the way to do things. He’s still watching tape and very, very involved in football. He loves it.”
Saban stepped away from coaching in January 2024 after nearly two decades of dominance at Alabama, where he won six national championships and built one of the greatest dynasties in college football history. His retirement was viewed as the end of an era — but it seems the man himself may not be ready to ride off into the sunset just yet.
“His brilliance is around football,” Smart continued. “It’s around scheme. Around another way to do something to stay ahead of the offensive minds.”
While Smart didn’t confirm whether Saban is truly eyeing a return, he made one thing crystal clear: Saban’s mind has never left the game.
Whether or not the GOAT makes a dramatic comeback remains to be seen. But if he does, the biggest hurdle might not be X’s and O’s — it might be convincing Miss Terry that another fall on the sidelines is worth it.
Until then, the legend watches from afar — coaching the game he loves, one tape session at a time.
