As of Sunday, it wasn’t believed that Alabama coach Nick Saban would be interested in becoming the head coach of the Colts. Before renewing vows with coach Chuck Pagano, the Colts didn’t bother to confirm it.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Colts did not make a run at hiring Saban prior to deciding to stay the course.
Irsay’s comments from Monday night’s “Never Mind the Dysfunction, Everybody Loves Each Other” press conference created the impression that he at least considered a Saban-style hire.
“Look, I could have walked someone in that door tonight or tomorrow night and have them come walking in with eight figures a year on themselves or whatever and say, ‘I’m making the big splash.’ Look, if that was the best for us, believe me, I would do it,” Irsay said.
As to Saban, it never got to the point that Irsay even tried to see if he could get the guy he tried to hire back in 1998.
This doesn’t change the fact that Saban dropped a strong hint in August about the possibility of another NFL stint, when he said that, if the Dolphins had signed Drew Brees, Saban would still be the coach there. Some interpreted the remark as an opening of the door to coach a team with a franchise quarterback.
With the Colts keeping Pagano and the Titans apparently not inclined to look elsewhere, there’s really only one current vacancy for a team with a great quarterback. And the Giants also have tried in the past to hire Saban, but control derailed the talks in 1996. With G.M. Jerry Reese staying, the Giants likely won’t be trying to lure Saban to the NFL.
So it appears to be over for Saban and the NFL. At least until 2017.