17 years of ebbs and flows through the championships might prepare a coach for anything, right? Well, looking at the sudden retirements in the NFL, especially Nick Saban’s, the statement raises second thoughts. On Thursday, Nick Saban announced his retirement, after working for Alabama for 17 years, 4 years at LSU from 2000 to 2004, and 4 years for Michigan from 1995 to 1999. Who would have known a game against his previous workplace, a lost one, would be Saban’s last game of his coaching career?

Nick Saban overtook Alabama when the team was in dire need of a guiding hand. Thus far, he guided them to six National Championships in his reign. Well, he wanted the number to be 7, adding the 2024 National Championship to the list as well. However, Jim Harbaugh and Co’s relentless efforts snatched the Rose Bowl victory and their shot at the Is National championship right from Saban’s hands.

Is the Rose Bowl loss the reason for Nick Saban’s retirement?

Nick Saban poured his heart and soul into each team he coached for the last 28 years. Hence a single playoff loss, coming from a relatively inexperienced coach, was assumably a big hit for Saban to deal with. Jim Harbaugh was suspended twice this season, first at the very beginning of the season, with the second suspension following after the sign-stealing debacle. All this tainted his reputation to a great extent.

Saban, on the other hand, being an all-old-school coach when it came to controversial topics like these, always stood up against that. “I’m just saying it’s bad for college football,” Saban had commented ahead of the Rose Bowl, referring to Jim Harbaugh and the sign-stealing fiasco. ” I don’t really care what he thinks or tweets. I say what I think is best for CFB & the players,” was and had been Saban’s stance. Hence, when the same team that he used to so critically lambast might have come as a huge stumble for him. The possibilities are endless. However, nothing can taint the legendary legacy the 72-year-old has left in CFB history.

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Nick Saban’s legacy

It has been 28 years since Saban joined college football and thus far; he has compiled a stellar staggering 297-71-1  collegiate coaching record. His teams were crowned the SEC champions 11 times, going 11-1 in the SEC Championship Games, including nine at Alabama (9-1 record) and two at LSU (2-0 mark).

READ ALSO: Coach Prime’s Colorado Clan and Pilar Sanders Respond to Alabama’s Big Loss in the Wake of Nick Saban’s Retirement Bombshell

The players under Saban have won about 66 All-American honors from 58 different individuals over the past 16 seasons. Moreover, since 2008, Crimson Tide players have secured approximately 60 National awards. Four of them were even maned Heisman Trophy winners. 44 of Alabama players have been chosen as first-round picks in NFL drafts. All of this and more defines the lasting legacy which might be nearly impossible to recreate.

Watch this story: Coach Jim Harbaugh Sets The Record Straight On Michigan’s Sign-Stealing Incident