Nick Saban: NFL Coaches Complain to Me About Players Who Can't 'Overcome Adversity'

Nick Saban believes the mentality of players has dramatically changed in college football in the age of NIL and the transfer portal.

The legendary former head coach appeared on The Pivot Podcast Tuesday and spoke on that topic (49:25 mark):

"The whole idea of what college used to be is not there anymore. I mean, it used to be you went to college to develop value for your future. Now, people are going to college to see how much money they can make. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but you change the whole dynamic of the importance of getting an education, making good decisions and choices about what you do and what you don't do to create value for your future. You change that whole dynamic and the idea that these guys are free agents twice a year and they can just go wherever they want."

"I mean, I got NFL coaches calling me complaining about these guys [that] have no ability to sustain and persevere and overcome adversity because they never had to do it. They just pack up and leave as soon as something doesn't go their way. That's what I always enjoyed about college developing those things that help guys be successful."

Saban noted that if he was coaching today he would seek a job in the NFL given the changing college landscape. It almost assuredly contributed to Saban retiring from Alabama after the 2023 season. At the time of his retirement last January, ESPN's Chris Low reported that sources said the legendary head coach disliked "what college football had turned into. He's all about team and building a team and developing players, and now the only thing that seems to matter is who can get what in the NIL and who can get the biggest deal."

The college game has long been a profession for coaches like Saban and the sport's administrators and sponsors, and it was only a matter of time before the players justifiably shared in those massive profits as well.

That has changed the dynamics in the sport, however, and Saban clearly isn't a fan.