Nick Saban Leaves Unmatched NFL Draft Legacy at Alabama

The legendary head coach developed top talent for the next level like no other.

After winning six national titles across 17 seasons, Nick Saban is retiring as the head football coach at Alabama.

His record on the field for the Crimson Tide obviously speaks for itself, but Saban also set a new standard for developing top talent for the next level.

Throughout his tenure in Tuscaloosa, Saban's teams produced 44 first-round picks in the NFL Draft. Combined with this previous stints at Michigan State and LSU, Saban has produced more first-round picks than any other head coach in college football history.

Saban and the Crimson Tide have put at least one player into the first round in each of the last 15 drafts.

In the 2023 draft, Saban's Crimson Tide boasted the No. 1 pick in quarterback Bryce Young, and the No. 3 pick in pass rusher Will Anderson Jr., both of whom were picked after teams traded up to select them. 

The 2024 class features a handful of prospects who are likely to come off the board in the first round, including cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, offensive tackle JC Latham, and edge defender Dallas Turner.

Now, at 72 years old, Saban rides off into the sunset, where he'll probably have a bit more time to watch all of those former players continue to perform at a high level on Sundays.