Greg McElroy hints that Nick Saban could return to coaching

By Chris Marler

Two hours into this year’s SEC Media Days in Atlanta, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy dropped a bomb no one was expecting.

Is Nick Saban going to return to coaching? 

According to McElroy there’s way more smoke around the answer being yes than no. He went on to say that the person he spoke with was “notable” as well as “adamant” about it being a good possibility. 

“This is a little bit out of left field, but the question was asked of me … a very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around and just really, really admire,” McElroy said. “They seem to think Nick Saban’s not done coaching. I had a similar reaction. He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again. … Look, if it wasn’t someone notable, I’d never say a word.”

Saban has been retired for 18 months, and his current job is in television. The man who once terrified media members at every press conference he got the chance, has become a huge hit on ESPN’s College Gameday. 

McElroy isn’t the only person to float these rumors around over the last few weeks. However, he was the only one in the camp that believes Saban will return to the sport amongst his peers at Media Days. 

If the story wasn’t bizarre enough, it also included Paul Finebaum being the voice of reason in response to McElroy. 

“I don’t know how, because I don’t know that itch burns anymore, either. But my opinion is Nick Saban is done in coaching,” said Finebaum on Monday morning. 

Saban will turn 74 on October 31.