When Nick Saban retired as Alabama football coach in January of 2024, he seemed like he was making a clean break from coaching. Saban started golfing more, working for ESPN and looked to be enjoying his departure from the day-to-day grind of college sports in its modern form.

It might not be that simple. During his radio show on WJOX in Birmingham on Monday, former Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy said he had heard Saban could return to the game.

“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, they seem to think Nick Saban is not done coaching,” McElroy said of his former coach. “He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again.”

McElroy said that he wouldn’t have brought the speculation up “if it wasn’t somebody notable.”

Saban, now 73-years-old, won an Emmy for his work on ESPN’s College Gameday this past season. He joined the show’s desk as an analyst, earning rave reviews for his work.

Appearing on McElroy and Cole Cubelic’s show, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum disagreed with the idea that the man who won six national championships in Tuscaloosa could return.

“He had a better situation at Alabama the day he left than he’ll have anywhere he goes, let’s say next year,” Finebaum said. “I don’t know if it’s college or pros. Could he be talked into something in the NFL? I don’t know how, because I don’t think that itch burns anymore either, but my opinion is Nick Saban is done in coaching.”

Later, appearing on ESPN, McElroy also said he didn’t quite believe in the idea.

“You want my personal opinion? I think he’s done,” McElroy said. “I’d be shocked [if he came back]. … There are people connected to the sports world that think he’s not done. Now, interpret that however you will. People that would be somewhat knowledgeable about something like this, yes.”

McElroy said his source had not said whether Saban would consider college or NFL jobs. Appearing on the same show, Finebaum again threw cold water on a potential return.

“I was with somebody the other day, who’s around Saban a lot, not in the state of Alabama, but in Florida, and he described to me what I’m sure you’ve heard many times … is that he’s having the time of his life,” Finebaum said. “He’s playing at better golf clubs than he’s ever been, and that will continue, because everybody wants Nick Saban to be in their golf club. He’s making a fortune when he decides he wants to make a speech. He’s making a fortune when he shows up on ESPN once a week.

“And why would you give all that up at the age of 74? … It makes no sense except that Nick Saban is the most competitive human being on the planet.”

Saban’s final year at Alabama, the Crimson Tide made the final four-team College Football Playoff, falling to Michigan in his final game. Since retirement, he mentioned not enjoying the status quo in college football, with changes to NIL and transfer regulations.

However, with more structure theoretically in place after the House v. NCAA settlement, perhaps one of the greatest of all time could be persuaded to return.