WATCH: Nick Saban reacts to being inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

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Nick Saban at the Birmingham Quarterback Club meeting. (The Bama Buzz)

Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before Nick Saban would be joining the College Football Hall of Fame.

But when ESPN’s College Gameday crew broke the news on air before the College Football Playoff semifinal last week, the former Alabama coach was still caught off guard by the announcement.

Alabama grad and College Gameday host Rece Davis got to officially surprise Saban with the news.

“Since the advent of college football, in 1869, more than 6 million people have played or coached this great game and .02% of them have made the College Football Hall of Fame. And even among that .02%, I think there’s even another level — observed for the greatest of all-time. And this December, coming up in Las Vegas — the National Football Foundation Awards Dinner — their new Hall of Fame class will be announced. Headlining that class will be the greatest college football coach in the history of the sport, Nick Saban.”

~ Rece Davis

Watch the full video below.

Video from ESPN’s College Gameday

Nick Saban’s career

During his time in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban put together numbers that many coaches could only dream of but what’s often forgotten is how much success he had before he came to Alabama.

And when all of those accomplishments come together, it’s clear why the Hall of Fame had an easy choice + why many consider him the greatest coach of all time.

The announcement officially came exactly one year after he announced his retirement which ended a coaching career that included:

  • 7 National Championships (6 with Alabama)
  • 11 SEC Championships (9 with Alabama)
  • 297 career wins (206 with Alabama)
  • 52 first-round picks (47 from Alabama)
  • 4 Heisman Trophy winners from Alabama

“Thank you so much. But anytime anything like this happens, it’s because you had a lot of great people in your organization. A lot of great players, a lot of great coaches, a lot of support staff — and they made a great team. And I was happy to drive the bus, but we had some great people on it.”

~ Nick Saban on his Hall of Fame induction

College Football Hall of Fame

The College Football Hall of Fame is located in downtown Atlanta. 997 players have been inducted as of 2024 with 23 of them coming from Alabama.

Saban is the fifth Alabama coach to be inducted and the first since 2010. He joins the same group of coaches who stand next to his statue at the Walk of Champions in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium including:

  • Wallace Wade
  • Frank Thomas
  • Bear Bryant
  • Gene Stallings

The 2025 class will be officially inducted during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 9, 2025, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

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Caleb Turrentine
Caleb Turrentine
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