In 1998, Colts owner Jim Irsay wanted to hire Nick Saban to coach the team. In 2016, Irsay may make another run at Saban.
And Saban may be receptive; it likely wasn’t an accident when Saban said earlier this year that he’d still be coaching the Dolphins if the team had signed quarterback Drew Brees in 2006. The likely message from Saban: I’d return to the NFL, if I know I’ll have a franchise quarterback on the roster.
At the time of the talk of Saban coming back to the NFL after a failed two-year stint with Miami, the Colts job appeared to be the only one that potentially would be coming available in 2016. Which isn’t a surprise. Rarely do coaches of teams with true franchise quarterbacks ever find themselves out of a job. (Then again, the Giants job could be open, too, with Eli Manning at quarterback.)
Another job with a potential franchise quarterback already will available. In a state closer to the state where Saban has lived since 2007. And the Titans, who would be crazy not to inquire about Chip Kelly, also would be nuts not to kick the tires on Saban.
Saban has shown that he has the ability to design and coach complex defenses. He was frustrated during his stint in Miami because he couldn’t stack the deck with his recruiting skills. With a franchise quarterback, the deck already is as stacked at the NFL level as it’s ever going to be.
Even if the Titans don’t want Saban, they should pursue Saban in order to drive up the price that their AFC South rivals ultimately would have to pay.
So, basically, the hiring cycle could get a lot more interesting if Saban is in play for a return to the NFL. For now, all we can do is wait for Saban to declare, “I’m not going to not be the Alabama coach.”