Nick Saban reportedly came close to taking the New York Giants job in January

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Leuzer

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http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsport...to-taking-the-new-york-giants-job-in-january/

Nick Saban reportedly came close to taking the New York Giants job in January

By Bryan Fischer | Oct 31, 2016, 5:14 PM EDT

It’s Nick Saban’s birthday today and the Alabama head coach is turning 65, prompting an appropriately low-key celebration across the college football landscape of somebody who just might be the best coach of all time in the sport.

As much as he would like all the focus to be on his team’s upcoming game against LSU however, that does not appear to be the case. In fact, according to one report in the New Jersey Record, Saban could have been preparing to face the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend instead of heading to Baton Rouge to play the Tigers.

This whole thing got started when comedian Tom Arnold told Paul Finebaum that Saban got in touch with the owners of the New York Giants in January and expressed interest in the open head coaching job vacated by Tom Coughlin. While a move from Alabama back to the NFL didn’t end up working out (Ben McAdoo was eventually promoted to the position), boxing promoter Bob Arum confirmed a few of the details involving Saban’s interest with the Record over the weekend.

“I get a call from Nick Khan, who’s an agent at CAA, and is a good friend of mine. He says, ‘Bob, I know you’re a good friend of (Giants co-owner) Steve Tisch. I have a colleague here at CAA,’ and I forget the guy’s name, ‘who represents Nick Saban. And Saban would be very interested in the Giants job,’” Arum told the paper. “I guess [Tisch] talked to (fellow co-owner John Mara)… because he called me back and he said, ‘Yes, we would be very interested. But we’re on a deadline. We’re about to hire somebody else.’

“They came back and said, ‘Nick is delighted. Now he’s talking to his wife.’ They went so far as to contact real estate agents in New Jersey, for homes in New Jersey. Then Nick [Khan] called back the next day and said, ‘Call Steve. Tell him Nick can’t do it. His wife loves Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She doesn’t want to move, so Nick can’t take the job.’”

Rumors that Saban has been looking to return to the NFL again have popped up nearly every season he’s been in Tuscaloosa and you could understand why he might be looking for a new challenge after winning his fifth national title. A prestigious job like the Giants would certainly be a solid fit given how he operates and even the timing makes some sense as Alabama beat Clemson on January 11th — three days before New York named McAdoo as their new head coach.

But it was not to be of course, and certainly not the first time that Saban’s wife Terry has been involved in a story about the coach possibly taking another job.

Thankfully for Alabama fans though, Saban stayed put in January and has the program on the cusp of yet another national title with an undefeated record and No. 1 ranking in all of the polls. It’s fun to think of what might have been had he decided to move on to the NFL but it’s probably safe to say it’s not the story Saban is thinking about on his birthday.

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So Saban's wife is keeping him from landing a head coaching job in the NFL? I'm sure Tuscaloosa is a wonderful town to live in, but I wonder if living in Hollywood with a truck load of cash could change her mind... :thinking:
 

kurtfaulk

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He already showed he couldn't hack it in the NFL. How is it going to be different this time round?

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Corbin

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He already showed he couldn't hack it in the NFL. How is it going to be different this time round?

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Tell that to Bill Belecheat or Cheat Carroll. Sometimes it just takes a new franchise and management that makes all the difference. (Besides the Browns,Jets,and Dolphins who arguably have the worst combo of owners/management consistently )

I'd love this dude coaching our boys and IMO the position hopefully will be very attractive. I could see Saban or Cowher being a serious candidate after I pray Fisher is just let leave with no extension.

Bye the to all you not to familiar with college football.... It will be time for Saban to leave once the boys in blue stop his ass in the championship game! ‼️
 

BatteringRambo

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As a complete outsider, I'll point to recruiting, etc in the NCAA D1 and NFL scouting, interviews , analysis , drafting ranks, player availability or not, move up or down, cost of doing either, and on and on.

I may be in the very low of favor, give (me) Fisher and Snead over Saban and any other D1 head coach. IMHO . Yeah 3-4 in current time is painful.

Looks like Bradford is wearing off very soon. I mean the Bears! ? Wentz, yup. Very impressed with Dak good got him snag a dui before combine, and end up a star like this. The American way . Lol. Don't mind me, I just giggle at all of the drama in the NFL from week to week.
 

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Saban may be arguably the best coach in NCAA currently and in the conversation for all time coaches. However I don't see where his success transcends in to the NFL.
He certainly has a knack for scouting and recruiting, and has built a machine that will keep snow balling.
Cant reproduce that in the NFL, cant just target a kid and sell him to come play when the draft dictates that
Urban Meyer on the other hand is a different story as I think at his core he's an offensive wiz that could figure out how to beat NFL defenses
 

Dieter the Brock

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Nick Saban Rams HC 2017

image.jpeg
 

Merlin

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Saban may be arguably the best coach in NCAA currently and in the conversation for all time coaches. However I don't see where his success transcends in to the NFL.
He certainly has a knack for scouting and recruiting, and has built a machine that will keep snow balling.
Cant reproduce that in the NFL, cant just target a kid and sell him to come play when the draft dictates that
Urban Meyer on the other hand is a different story as I think at his core he's an offensive wiz that could figure out how to beat NFL defenses

Nick failed once in a not-great situation. It's tough to hold that against a guy at this level IMO, and probably a mistake.

If Stan wants a Bill Belichick type in place who can run it all, Saban's not a bad choice. Remember that prospective coaching hires are going to see Stan giving Fisher five full years of sub-.500 production as proof of a patient type owner you want to work for. Rams being in LA on top of that means that job is a top 3 job in the NFL period.

If Stan wants Saban he could get him. The risk is whether Saban might retire outright; does he have the desire to grind it out at the NFL level? If the answer is yes, I think he would succeed.

IMO there are two guys in college I'd write a blank check to as an owner: Harbaugh and Saban. If Nick comes available we'd be fools to not take a hard look at him, bring him in to hear his vision, etc.
 

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I would love to have Nick Saban at HC but it wouldn't make sense to leave Alabama. He has built one of the greatest college football dynasties in history and is treated/paid like a king.
 

Rams43

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Well, as a fan that's more than ready for a change at HC, I've gotta say that I'm intrigued.

The examples of Belichick and Carroll seem relevant.

Jimmy Johnson transferred his skills from college to the NFL game pretty good, too.

We could do far worse than hiring a 5 time National Championship HC. Maybe soon to be a 6 timer.

Talk about a fan and player confidence building resume. Lol.
 

Merlin

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I would love to have Nick Saban at HC but it wouldn't make sense to leave Alabama. He has built one of the greatest college football dynasties in history and is treated/paid like a king.

Guy like Saban might feel his legacy isn't complete without showing he can win at the highest level. I'm sure the dude is a competitor, and that he has an ego. Would be my guess on his reasoning if he is sniffing around with NFL jobs.
 

dieterbrock

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Nick failed once in a not-great situation. It's tough to hold that against a guy at this level IMO, and probably a mistake.

If Stan wants a Bill Belichick type in place who can run it all, Saban's not a bad choice. Remember that prospective coaching hires are going to see Stan giving Fisher five full years of sub-.500 production as proof of a patient type owner you want to work for. Rams being in LA on top of that means that job is a top 3 job in the NFL period.

If Stan wants Saban he could get him. The risk is whether Saban might retire outright; does he have the desire to grind it out at the NFL level? If the answer is yes, I think he would succeed.

IMO there are two guys in college I'd write a blank check to as an owner: Harbaugh and Saban. If Nick comes available we'd be fools to not take a hard look at him, bring him in to hear his vision, etc.
Well, for one, I don't think Saban failed at all in Miami. In fact, I thought he did pretty good.
That Miami team he took over was trash, the chump line of QB that passed thru there after Marino was horrific.
Saban turned around a lousy 4-12 team to 9-7 in his first year
He bailed on Miami for the Bama job.
Couldn't blame him as Miami is/was a train wreck
I just don't see him being the guy to lead an NFL team
Plus, I think he'd be the 2nd oldest coach in the league just behind Pete Carroll.
 

Rams43

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More I think about it, the more interested I'm becoming.

Not worried about Saban transferring from college to NFL.

Here's the thing...

Saban is a HC exec type elite.
He knows how to select great asset coaches.
He knows how to set a goal and then delegate.
He demands results and gets them, something Fisher has lacked.
His players love and respect him.
More importantly, his players execute plays for him.
He does not tolerate non performance from his asst coaches or his players.
He would have a GM to find his players for him (hopefully Snead)
Might be nice for him to not have to spend half his time recruiting.
Kroenke would be the perfect owner. Never interferes, pays well, autonomy on hiring assistants, patient, etc.
LA might be the perfect venue for Saban and his wife. Bright lights and great weather.
He would inherit a team with lots of talent in many positions that's just crying out for proper direction.
It could be a golden opportunity for a one year turnaround which would make him the toast of the town.

You know, this could be a huge win win for both Nick Saban and the Rams.

Almost makes too much sense. Lol.
 

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Bye the to all you not to familiar with college football.... It will be time for Saban to leave once the boys in blue stop his ass in the championship game! ‼️
I don't think this^ is going to happen. But What do I know!
I do know he sucked his 1st go-round as a HC in the NFL, and he hasn't changed his coaching style in all this time! So ..
 

JerseyRam1

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I have been mentioning him as the type of "ideal" candidate to take over this team. Its the right job at the right time for him, with a patient owner that doesnt mettle into the day to day.
 

Selassie I

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I might consider him if he is able to get his balls back out of his wife's purse first.
 

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I don't think this^ is going to happen. But What do I know!
I do know he sucked his 1st go-round as a HC in the NFL, and he hasn't changed his coaching style in all this time! So ..
You don't think what Dave?
My Wolverines are going to stomp his ass in the championship game?
Or that he'd move back to the NFL?
 

DaveFan'51

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You don't think what Dave?
My Wolverines are going to stomp his ass in the championship game?
Or that he'd move back to the NFL?
I don't think Alabama can be beat! It's just my gut telling me Alabama can't be stopped! But I don't keep with College Ball, so IDK squat!(y);):D
 

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Can any team guarantee that Nick gets to have the greatest portion of the best players on his team, like in college? If so, he is a lock.
 

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I don't think Alabama can be beat! It's just my gut telling me Alabama can't be stopped! But I don't keep with College Ball, so IDK squat!(y);):D
We need to bet on this when it comes to the playoffs! The most legendary college football program will learn you some! :rolllaugh: