Nick Saban reveals 'biggest mistake I ever made' in career

Nick Saban left a legacy that remains unmatched in college football history, retiring with an NCAA-record seven national championships to his credit, but the head coach admits there was one mistake that was his biggest professional regret.
That was leaving LSU for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League.
Nick Saban only has one regret… leaving LSU. Sitting on then LSU athletic Director’s Skip Bertman’s balcony Nick’s agent Jimmy Sexton asked…
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 21, 2025
“Do you want to be Bear Bryant or Vince Lombardi?”
Without hesitation Saban answered “Bear Bryant”. Still, he made the decision to… pic.twitter.com/l6ikTPa9RC
“When I left LSU, that was probably the biggest mistake that I ever made, not because we didn’t have success in Miami,” Saban said on The Pivot podcast.
“I enjoyed coaching in Miami. I found out in that experience that I like coaching college better because you can develop players personally, academically, athletically, and all that a little more than pro ball.”
Saban shared the story of how that one decision was made, when he was considering his options in conversation with agent Jimmy Sexton.
Asked if he would rather be Bear Bryant or Vince Lombardi, the choice was obvious to Saban.
But he didn’t follow through with his own advice.
“Jimmy Sexton stood on a balcony when I was at LSU making a decision about whether to go to Miami or stay at LSU,” Saban said.
“He said, ‘What do you want your legacy to be as a coach? Do you want to be Vince Lombardi or Bear Bryant?’
“Without hesitation, I said, ‘Bear Bryant.’ I went anyway,” Saban said.
But while Saban may regret the decision to leave LSU and try his luck in the NFL, in the grand scheme of things, his move to Alabama really couldn’t have turned out any better.
After winning six national championships with the Crimson Tide, he matched and surpassed Bryant’s own record at the school, and his seven rings are the most in college football history.
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