Saban says leaving LSU ‘biggest mistake’ of career

In a coaching career that spanned five decades, Nick Saban has often referred to his decision to leave LSU for the Miami Dolphins following the 2004 season as his biggest regret. The seven-time national champion reiterated that thought in a wide ranging interview on The Pivot and said if he were to return to coaching, it would be in the NFL.

“When I left LSU, that was probably professionally the biggest mistake that I ever made,” Saban said. “Not because we didn’t have success in Miami, because I enjoyed coaching in Miami. But I found out in that experience that I liked coaching in college better…”

Saban related a story of a conversation he had with his agent when he made the decision to take the Dolphins job.

“Jimmy Sexton stood on the balcony when I was getting ready to leave LSU or make a decison about whether I went to Miami or stayed at LSU. He says, ‘What do you want your legacy to be as a coach? Do you want to be Vince Lombardi or do you want to be Bear Bryant?’ And without hesitation, I said Bear Bryant. And he said, ‘What are you doing going to Miami, then?’

“Outside of (LSU Athletic Deirector) Skip Bertman’s office on the balcony, and I went anyway.”

Nick Saban only has one regret… leaving LSU. Sitting on then LSU athletic Director’s Skip Bertman’s balcony Nick’s agent Jimmy Sexton asked…
“Do you want to be Bear Bryant or Vince Lombardi?”

Without hesitation Saban answered “Bear Bryant”. Still, he made the decision to… pic.twitter.com/l6ikTPa9RC

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 21, 2025

Saban went 15-17 in two seasons in Miami before accepting the Alabama job in 2007. He would spend 17 season with the Tide, winning six national titles. He acknowledged, however, that if he were to coach again, it would likely be in the NFL.

“If I was going to coach today, based on the circumstances in college and in the NFL, I would coach in the NFL,” Saban said. “The whole idea of what college used to be is not there anymore. It used to be you went to college to develop value for your future. Now people are going to college to see how much money they can make.”

“I think the players should get paid in college,” he added. “I just think the system we’re doing it in is not really beneficial to them and their development in the future.”

When pressed on whether or not he’d coach again, Saban paused, “I don’t think so.”

Saban admitted if he weren’t still involved in sports through his role at ESPN, “I’d probably say, ‘maybe.'”