Cowherd Calls Saban Return "Worst kept Secret in South"

Speculation about Nick Saban's return to coaching intensified last week after former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy reported that a "reliable source" had informed him Saban was considering a return to coaching.

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The rumor was disputed all week at SEC Media Days, and was capped by Kristen Saban posting to her Instagram story that Saban was not returning to the college football world.

However, despite the rumor being put to rest by Kristen, Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd reported his own inquiries about Nick Saban's potential return to coaching in the NFL.

"The worst kept secret in the south is Jimmy Haslam leans heavily on the Manning family. Arch Manning is part of the family. Nick Saban is close to Haslam and the Manning’s," Cowherd said during his Wednesday show. "If Saban could land a top 10, he would take a phone call from the NFL. Two teams are guaranteed to be awful in the NFL, the Browns and Saints. Saban coached in Cleveland and at LSU. The Manning’s are royalty in New Orleans and the Manning’s are royalty to Haslam, who loves headlines. This is not a conspiracy theory.”

Reports also indicate that the Cleveland Browns are "in love" with Texas quarterback Arch Manning, linking both Saban and Manning to Cleveland.

The Browns still have two years left on the five-year, $230 million contract fully guaranteed to quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is not expected to play in the 2025 NFL season due to a ruptured Achilles. Outside of Watson, the Browns have rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders under contract for the 2026 season. Veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are on the final year of their deals in Cleveland.

If Manning spends one season as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, the Browns will have a chance to draft him, then sit him behind a veteran in Deshaun Watson. If he spends two seasons at Texas, Cleveland could draft Manning as the immediate replacement for Watson.

Saban spent time with the Cleveland Browns before as the defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick from 1991 to 1994. He was also the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2005 to 2006.

Could Saban pull the opposite move of his mentor, Bill Belichick, and go from the college game back to the NFL?

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.