The football world was hit with a memorable and turbulent week of coaching resignations and firings that are still reverberating.
Nick Saban stepped down as head coach at Alabama and the Patriots parted ways with Bill Belichick.
A few days before, Pete Carroll was relieved of his head coaching duties with the Seahawks and Mike Vrabel was let go at Tennessee.
But those two don’t share the spotlight with legends Saban and Belichick.
Saban resigned as head coach after 17 years in Tuscaloosa and six national championships. He also won one at LSU.
Has anyone ever had a better reign?
No.
Has anyone won more national titles?
No.
Saban never gave any concrete reason why, but he alluded to the fact that while he is in good health, he feels he doesn’t have the physical dedication or endurance to keep the program where it needs to be.
Not mentioned, but another factor has to be the way of life in college sports today.
With the advent of NIL (name, image, likeness), which permits athletes to be paid for the use of their name etc. in promotional and commercial ventures, players at some schools receive in the millions of dollars for playing.
I think that’s a far cry from the $15 received for doing laundry that used to be joked about for college athletes.
In addition, the transfer portal has shaken up that industry.
Players can transfer from season to season and there is no question tampering goes on as one school reaches out to lure a player from another even during the season.
The whole thing has gone upside-down, and there is a good chance Nick Saban felt, at 72, decided it wasn’t worth it anymore.
Alabama quickly selected Kalen DeBoer as their new head coach. DeBoer is fresh from leading the University of Washington to the national championship game, losing to Michigan.
The Huskies were undefeated going in.
DeBoer seems like an ideal choice. He won over a lot of supporters when he stated that Saban would have 100% access to the program.
The big question for the new ‘Bama leader is whether he can be a top recruiter? Although every powerhouse has coaches who are adept at probably the most important aspect of college sports.
The Belichick bombshell was huge, despite the fact it was no real surprise considering his team’s struggles the past couple of years.
Just hearing that he was moving on from the Patriots was, in a way, shocking, in light of a 24-year career in New England and six Lombardi Trophies to show for it.
Belichick was in charge of everything regarding the Patriots.
I’ve heard from those in the know, that if a pencil breaks in Foxboro, Bill Belichick was aware of it.
He ran the entire operation from personnel to the draft, to salary negotiations. You name it.
He is a mastermind as a head coach, aware of every detail ultimately produces victory.
But lately, his personnel moves, draft selections, and coaching decisions have been clearly unsuccessful.
It is also felt that Belichick and owner Bob Kraft, despite public appearances to the contrary, were constantly at odds.
Kraft has said that Belichick told him Tom Brady was through as a winning quarterback , prior to Brady moving on to the Tampa Bay Bucs, and winning another Super Bowl.
That advice still sticks in Bob Kraft’s craw.
So now the big question is where will Belichick coach next?
He wants to continue, and will. But where?
Rumors are afloat regarding several possible stops.
The most intriguing are the Dallas Cowboys, who failed again in the playoffs, losing miserably to the Packers in the Wild Card round.
The Cowboys, NFC East division winners, seemed prime to have their best shot this season.
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys owner, knows there is limited time for Dallas to make the big run, and Belichick, in a way, is in the same boat.
The Cowboys have a strong roster, a quarterback, in Dak Prescott who has the goods to make a Super Bowl run, and appear to be the ideal next stop for the coach.
It is possible by now we have an answer, so my speculation could be moot.
There are other possibilities for Belichick, such as the Falcons, Raiders, Chargers and Commanders, but of those, only the Chargers look to have a quarterback, Justin Herbert, who can carry a team.
The other fly in the ointment is control.
Can Bill Belichick find a team that will allow him to run the operation? Lately, that’s been his problem, but can he work while not having final say in everything?
The Patriots named defensive coach Jerod Mayo their new head coach. He apparently was assured being Belichick’s successor when he stayed with the club in his last contract negotiation. It’ll be a new direction for New England and it should be a fruitful one.
It was a bit more than surprising that Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel were let go.
Both had winning records in Seattle and Tennessee respectively.
Sometimes, owners who know little about the business of football listen to advisors or friends who put their head coaches in a negative light.
They are swayed by that, and often get rid of the people they should keep, and sadly learn that as time goes on.
Both head coaches are likely to find new landing fields, and again, by the time you read this, they may already have.
It is rare that two head football coaches, the best ever in the college and professional ranks, depart at the same time.
The coaching carousel is always on the move this time of year, but to see Nick Saban and Bill Belichick leave virtually at the same time, is something few ever predicted.
It may be known by some, but the two worked together and remain close friends to this day.
Belichick was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns for five years in the early 90’s.
Saban was his defensive coordinator for four of those seasons.
They suffered losing seasons the first three years before going 11-5, and making the playoffs.
They beat the Patriots in the Wild Card before losing to the Steelers in the Divisional Playoffs.
Saban left to become head coach at Michigan State after that campaign.
Belichick’s final year was a losing one.
He was fired before regaining his coaching footing and eventually becoming head coach with the Patriots in 2000.
It’s all a learning process. Belichick had to change some of his ways after the Cleveland experience and he obviously did.
Saban became a head coach and he too, learned.
The pair absorbed enough to become the greatest at what they do.
That’s why their departures last week are one of the special moments in sports.