If you thought Nick Saban was going to ride off into the sunset after retiring his headset at Alabama, think again. The guy is as active and influential as ever. Since stepping down after the 2023 season, Saban has eased right into the ESPN studio hot seat, providing his trademark mix of wit and straight talk to college football fans everywhere. In May 2025, President Donald Trump tapped Saban to co-chair his college sports commission to address the wild west of NIL deals, the transfer portal, and the looming issue of revenue sharing for athletes. Even after retirement, people value Saban’s voice, whether he’s speaking on Capitol Hill or brainstorming with the president. Speaking of voices that carry, let’s take a look at what Nick’s daughter, Kristen Saban, has to say about her dad’s new job title.
The social media sensation, who’s never been afraid to stand up for her dad or show the world her sense of style, shares her take. Kristen made headlines recently for defending her father against critics following his high-profile sit-down with Trump regarding NIL reform. On top of that, the influencer with 90,000 followers has a heart of gold when it comes to philanthropy and isn’t afraid to use her platform to shine a light on the charitable efforts of her family.
On 12th May, Kristen shared an Instagram story promoting the Nick’s Kids Foundation’s annual giveaway, reminding her followers how they could get involved. The caption was, ” NICK’S KIDS FOUNDATION GIVEAWAY! We are giving away a personalized, signed football to one lucky person! Coach Saban will personally draw and announce the winner on our social media accounts on Friday, May 16th.” Now, these are like golden words for every football fan out there. Owning Nick Saban’s autographed football is like possessing a portion of college football royalty. Think about the excitement, knowing that this football bears the hand-signature of possibly the greatest college football coach in history, a man with a career trajectory that highlights multiple national titles and decades of dominance.
Kristen is not treating this as a one-time effort; she commits to the work of the foundation, which has provided more than $625,000 this year to kids, teachers, and families in need. Fans are ecstatic that having a Nick Saban-autographed football immediately makes their collection a focal point for any man cave or fan cave. It’s the type of memorabilia that will get people talking and garnering compliments whenever visitors come over. With Saban’s recent retirement, fans are cherishing these autographed footballs even more, as they represent the closing of an era.
Pat McAfee weighs in on Saban’s next play
Nick Saban has been vocal about the free-for-all that NIL money and the transfer portal have created, and how the cash influx from rich donors has made college football a pay-for-play and free-for-all program. He’s pushed for uniform NIL regulation across the country and a revenue-sharing model that rewards student-athletes without making them employees. Saban’s also concerned about the ripple effect on non-revenue sports and smaller schools, warning that if there isn’t reform, college sports will become an “exclusive club” for the largest programs.
Trump wants this commission to drill down and come up with actual solutions, not some barrage of talking points. So Saban’s rolling up his sleeves again and stepping right into the fray, ready to battle for the integrity of the sport. And of course, you know Pat McAfee had to chime in on all this. The guy’s never met a hot take he hasn’t enjoyed, and Saban’s new job is freshest material. He jokes that Saban has always been the rule-maker, and now he is going to write them. McAfee has a point- if anyone’s going to put some structure into this chaos, it’s likely Saban.
McAfee’s been vocal with the kudos, saying, “That dude’s special. Coach Saban is a special, special person. That’s why the rumors that are coming out about him potentially being a part of it.” McAfee claims nobody is more qualified for the task, thanks to Saban’s extensive knowledge of the game and his business acumen. But McAfee doesn’t mince words on the challenge, either. He flat out referred to it as “an impossible task,” cautioning that even the GOAT may be taking on more than he can handle attempting to straighten out college football’s chaos. McAfee’s had exposure to Saban long enough to realize the guy never does things halfway, but he also recognizes this isn’t about sitting around sketching Xs and Os- it’s an around-the-clock grind, and the problems are far too massive for any single coach or committee to address.
The post Nick Saban’s Latest Venture Draws Daughter Kristen’s Reaction After Pat McAfee Issues Warning Over New College Football Role appeared first on EssentiallySports.