Paul Finebaum Has 1 Coaching Job In Mind For Nick Saban originally appeared on The Spun.
Count Paul Finebaum among the observers who can’t accept Nick Saban’s retirement.
The iconic head coach stepped down after 17 seasons at Alabama, and he quickly found a new gig on “College GameDay.” Yet Finebaum is already conjuring scenarios in which Saban returns to a football sideline.
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Finebaum speculated on Saban going back to an old home on Tuesday’s “First Take,” but not the Crimson Tide or LSU Tigers. The ESPN analyst instead pitched a shift to the NFL, calling the Miami Dolphins the “perfect job” for the Florida resident.
One would think reuniting with former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would contribute to the unconventional pairing. However, Finebaum campaigned for Saban to kick the Pro Bowler to the curb.
“Unfortunately, the first thing he would have to do as the Dolphins coach — where he once coached — is get rid of Tua Tagovailoa, a quarterback who won him a national championship,” Finebaum said, according to On3’s Nick Kosko. “But I think if he got Jim Harbaugh money, which he is certainly deserving and maybe a little more, I think that’s where people want to look.”
Of course, one pesky complication (beyond Saban retiring from coaching and working for ESPN) is that the Dolphins already have a head coach.
ATLANTA, GA DECEMBER 07: ESPN personality Paul Finebaum reacts prior to the start of the SEC Championship Game between the Texas Longhorns and the Georgia Bulldogs on December 7th, 2024 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Miami has gone 28-23 with two playoff appearances in Mike McDaniel’s three seasons. He seemed to earn job security when leading the Dolphins to an 11-6 record and the NFL’s top-ranked offense in 2023 behind 4,624 passing yards from Tagovailoa.
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However, Miami dipped to 8-9 with the No. 18 offense in 2024. Health concerns resurfaced for Tagovailoa, who missed time with another concussion early in the season.
Finebaum omitted a significant difference between Harbaugh and Saban. While Harbaugh took the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl before going to Michigan, Saban went 15-17 in two seasons as Miami’s head coach.
Such a move wouldn’t happen until next offseason, meaning the Dolphins would be replacing one of the game’s rising young offensive gurus for a 74-year-old who retired and spent two seasons away from a sideline.
Related: Nick Saban Receives Job ‘Offer’ Amid Coaching Return Speculation
Paul Finebaum Has 1 Coaching Job In Mind For Nick Saban first appeared on The Spun on Jul 16, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.