AJ McCarron hints Nick Saban would only return to coach at Texas, not Alabama.
AJ McCarron Shares the College Program Nick Saban Might Return to Coach—And It’s Not Alabama originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Nick Saban may be enjoying retirement, but the rumors of a comeback just won’t die. From college football circles to NFL chatter, the question lingers: Could the legendary coach actually return to the sidelines?
One former player thinks there’s only one college job that could lure Saban back—and it’s not Alabama.
Speaking on a recent episode of "The Dynasty" podcast, former Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron threw out a surprising Saban destination.
“There's only one school he would ever—I could ever see him coming back for,” McCarron said. “And this is because, you can just say I know. I’ll never talk more in depth on it. I could see him coming back to college for the University of Texas.”
McCarron made it clear that this is hypothetical and not a prediction, especially considering the job is very much filled. “The fact that Texas has Sark [Steve Sarkisian] and Sark's not going anywhere. So nothing's happening there,” he added.
This follows a string of speculation sparked by another former Alabama quarterback, Greg McElroy, who hinted on-air that Saban might have the itch to coach again. That speculation then spread to national media, with analysts like Colin Cowherd even floating the idea of Saban returning to the NFL to coach the Cleveland Browns.
Still, McCarron’s mention of Texas is particularly intriguing. Saban once famously turned down the Longhorns' job years ago, and Texas now stands as one of the most powerful brands in college football, especially with its move to the SEC.
The connection to Sarkisian, a former Saban assistant, only adds fuel to the idea that Texas could appeal to Saban if the stars somehow aligned.
For now, though, Saban appears content in retirement. But if he ever puts the headset back on, it just might be in burnt orange instead of crimson.
Related: Drama Erupts Over Alabama-Georgia Tickets Involving Nick Saban’s Daughter
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
