The greatest college football coach of all time, Nick Saban, just dropped a bombshell on the Pat McAfee Show: he got fired from Ohio State. Not many folks know that Saban, the legend himself, actually got the boot as an assistant coach under Earle Bruce way back in 1980-81. This isn’t some rumor; Saban himself confirmed his short, impactful, and ultimately shocking stint in Columbus. It’s a wild twist in the story of a coach who built absolute dynasties.
The Buckeye Boot After a Bowl Win? Seriously.
Imagine getting fired after a win. Sounds wild, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Saban. He was the defensive backs coach for the Buckeyes from 1980-81, stepping in to replace none other than Pete Carroll. His time with the scarlet and gray was super short-lived. The axe fell after Ohio State beat Navy 31-28 in the 1981 Liberty Bowl. What gives? It was a “housecleaning” of some defensive staff due to a reported “disagreement in philosophy.” Seriously, a disagreement in philosophy after a bowl game win? That’s college football for you, always something unexpected.
“It Was My Fault:” Saban’s Candid Admission
On the Pat McAfee Show, with former Buckeye A.J. Hawk right there, McAfee didn’t pull punches and asked Saban point-blank if he’d ever been fired. Saban was quick to own it, “Yeah, I talked to you about that. I got fired when I was a defensive backs coach at Ohio State.” McAfee then compared it to Michael Jordan getting cut from his high school team, suggesting it was an “inspiration for killing everyone all the time.” But Saban, ever the stand-up guy, took responsibility. He shot back, “I actually love Ohio State; I’ve always liked Ohio State; I loved it when I coached there. It’s a great institution. It was my fault I got fired. I can’t blame anybody else for that.” That kind of accountability, even for a setback decades ago, is a real lesson. After that Ohio State departure, Saban went on to be an assistant at Navy, Michigan State, and Toledo in college, plus with the Houston Oilers and Cleveland Browns in the NFL, before becoming a head coach at Michigan State, LSU, and Alabama. He eventually racked up seven national championships, setting the bar for coaching success.
His story is a reminder that success isn’t an overnight thing. It often comes after a failure, a tough lesson, or even a shocking firing after a win. Saban’s brief, fiery exit from Ohio State was clearly a pivotal learning experience on his path to becoming the G.O.A.T. of college football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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