Despite former Alabama football quarterback Greg McElroy’s attempts to temper the madness, his Monday claim that he had heard from someone “in the know” that Nick Saban could return to coaching became the dominant story at SEC media days.

Ole Miss coach and former Saban assistant Lane Kiffin said it wouldn’t surprise him, but longtime Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart didn’t sound convinced on Tuesday.

When asked about it, Smart began with a joke.

“I called him and offered him (Will) Muschamp’s job,” Smart said in Atlanta, mentioning his former Bulldog co-defensive coordinator. “But he’s overqualified so he wasn’t interested.”

Smart worked at Alabama under Saban for nine seasons. He then headed back to his alma mater, where he’s won two national championships, even beating the Crimson Tide in the national title game for the 2021 season.

Smart acknowledged his old boss’ competitive fire but said he didn’t believe the rumor of a return.

“I heard all that scuttlebutt and everything about it, I almost laughed,” Smart said. “It was like somebody needed something interesting to talk about yesterday, so they chose to got to coach Saban and do it. The game’s better with him involved. He is involved. He is passionate about it. He and I still talk and share ideas from time to time about defensive philosophies and the way to do things.

“And he’s still watching tape and very, very involved in football. He loves it. And his brilliance, as brilliant as he is, is around football. I mean, it’s around scheme. It’s around another way to do something, to stay ahead of the offensive minds. And I think that’s one of the unique talents that he has, and he still loves that. He’s still passionate about that.”

Saban has moved into media since leaving Alabama in January 2024. He won an Emmy for his work on ESPN’s College Gameday show.

He’s also been enjoying the spoils of retirement, playing golf and spending time with family. Smart predicted Saban’s wife, Terry, might have something to say about a possible decision to return to coaching.

“Make no mistake about it,” Smart said. “The boss at home will make that call for him, not him.”