Nick Saban, one of the winningest coaches in college football history, is retiring, according to ESPN's Chris Low.
Saban won seven national titles -- six with the Alabama Crimson Tide and one with the LSU Tigers -- the most by any college football coach. He also won 11 SEC championships throughout his coaching career. None of Saban's recruiting classes at Alabama played four years without winning a national championship, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
The Crimson Tide won at least 10 games for 16 consecutive seasons -- the longest streak by any program during the AP poll era. Saban's teams reached the College Football Playoff in eight of 10 seasons.
Saban finished his collegiate coaching career with a record of 292-71-1, including a 201-29 record at Alabama. His 292 wins rank sixth all-time in FBS history. Saban also spent two seasons as coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006, amassing a 15-17 record.
Here's how the sports world reacted to Saban's retirement on Wednesday.
Former players
Coach Saban is the GOAT!! Thanks for believing in a young man from Flint, Michigan. Helped me become a champion on the field, but more importantly a champion in LIFE. Enjoy retirement Coach, you earned that!! Love you Coach Saban, ROLL TIDE!! 🥹🥲 pic.twitter.com/VJ5KzUcHu3
— Mark Ingram II (@markingramII) January 10, 2024
Enjoy retirement Nicky my boy! Hell of a damn coaching career. Thanks for helping so many young men reach their goals and dreams #RMFT pic.twitter.com/jJVGqAnoZJ
— Dont'a Hightower (@zeus30hightower) January 10, 2024
The Greatest of All Time. 🐐 https://t.co/tTGapztxiq
— Greg McElroy (@GregMcElroy) January 10, 2024
I would have been in that portal so fast after I heard Saban retiring lol
— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) January 10, 2024
built by bama
— Kenyan Drake™ (@KDx32) January 10, 2024
happy retirement 🐐 pic.twitter.com/nne7nhTvEt
Nooooo
— MWS (@MackWilSr) January 10, 2024
Thanks for everything coach Saban, you a real living legend. 🫶🏽
— Raekwon Davis (@Raekwondavis_99) January 11, 2024
To the Undisputed 🐐.. THANK YOU for taking a chance on a kid from right down the road. #RollTide4L ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TwPozxkeDT
— MWS (@MackWilSr) January 11, 2024
Coaches
WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement. WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let's hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see. #CoachPrime @CUBuffsFootball
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 10, 2024
Bill Belichick has the utmost respect for Nick Saban 👏
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2024
(via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/kphn727yhh
The 2 GOAT's! Would not be where I am today without these two men as mentors! Thank you for everything! pic.twitter.com/JTJCgOdYbN
— Steve Sarkisian (@CoachSark) January 10, 2024
"You're a hell of a coach."
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 10, 2024
Kirby Smart to Nick Saban before the 2023 SEC Championship 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/sgnWkfDfq5
Alabama and former teams
Thank You, Coach.
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 11, 2024
🔗:https://t.co/cz8p9xqXYQ#RollTide pic.twitter.com/DQRdELaNjR
congrats to our former DC on an incredible coaching career! pic.twitter.com/Xp5GKuEAC7
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 10, 2024
Congratulations Coach Saban! pic.twitter.com/qLQAvJXnuz
— #MACtion (@MACSports) January 10, 2024
Sports world
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 10, 2024
7 National Championships. SEVEN!
— ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2024
No one has won more.
Nick Saban is forever stamped in college football history 🐐 pic.twitter.com/RZX6TOPnsN
They rolled Toomer's 👀 pic.twitter.com/ehoyxhpCuh
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 10, 2024
Nick Saban is the best to ever do it! pic.twitter.com/T8JcNbLEIn
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) January 11, 2024