Nick Saban Praises Jalen Hurts' Character After Viral Video of Benching in CFP Title Game

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban circled back on his famous decision to bench Jalen Hurts at halftime of the 2018 national title game.

ESPN's new docuseries on Saban included footage from inside the locker room as he made the switch:

Appearing on College GameDay, the retired coach called it "one of the most difficult decisions I ever had to make as a coach." He praised Hurts for how he "managed and handled the adversity and the difficult circumstance that he was put in."

"This guy's character in that situation has been understated," Saban said. "And I think people should recognize how much character he really has, and that's what has propelled him to be a great player in the NFL and [win] a Super Bowl."

Saban's gambit paid off handsomely. With Tua Tagovailoa at the helm, Alabama scored 20 points in the second half against SEC rival Georgia. Tagovailoa won the game in overtime when he hit DeVonta Smith with a 41-yard touchdown pass.

The writing was on the wall as to who would be the starting quarterback for the 2018 season. Despite the fact he'd be relegated to backup status, Hurts stuck around.

In an appropriate twist of fate, he replaced an injured Tagovailoa in the SEC championship and guided the offense on pair of fourth-quarter scoring drives in a 35-28 victory over Georgia.

Few would've blamed Hurts for exiting — he transferred to Oklahoma for his final year in 2019 — in the wake of the 2018 title game. Saban made the right decision, but it was a harsh assessment of a QB who had started 29 games for him over two years.

Things worked out nicely for Hurts in the end. He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up with the Sooners and continued to defy his skeptics with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.

What unfolded inside the Tide locker room in Atlanta may have been a blessing in disguise.