Jeff Lebby at SEC Media Days 2024: 3 interesting things Mississippi State HC said at Dallas event

Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby made his SEC Media Days 2024 appearance on Wednesday. He addressed the media for the first time as the Bulldogs coach after taking the job in late November.

This is Lebby's first head coaching job after spending time at UCF, Ole Miss and Oklahoma as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Here's a look at three interesting things the new Mississippi State coach said during SEC Media Days 2024 in Dallas, TX.

---

Three interesting things Jeff Lebby said at SEC Media Days 2024

NCAA Football: SEC Media Day

#1 He is 'Indebted Forever' to Brent Venables

Brent Venables took the coaching job at Oklahoma in 2022, and Lebby was one of his first hires as team's offensive coordinator. The two spent two seasons together at Oklahoma before Lebby took his first coaching job at Mississippi State.

Lebby spoke during SEC Media Days 2024 on the challenges of being a first-year coach and what he learned by watching Venables go through the same thing.

"A great experience for me is being able to see him do it from year one to year two and being this great coordinator who had an incredible amount of success and being able to get into that head coaching chair and find ways to keep getting better.

"It was all about what's best for the program, it's all about what's best for the people inside our room, as consistent of a leader and a man as there is, I believe that, in all of college football. Indebted to him forever for giving me that experience."

Venables will remain the coach at Oklahoma as the Sooners make the transition from the Big 12 to the SEC in 2024.

---

#2 Nick Saban attempting to hire him

Jeff Lebby will return to coaching in the SEC this season after two seasons in the Big 12 with Oklahoma from 2022 to 2023.

However, he nearly returned to the SEC last season when Nick Saban had included Lebby on the list of offensive coordinators he wanted to work for him at Alabama for the 2023 season.

During SEC Media Days 2024, Lebby was asked about the job at Alabama that Saban offered him, which he would eventually turn down.

"Coach Saban, it was just an honor to have conversations with him as we went through some things," Lebby said.

"I could not be more thankful for the opportunity. At the time, it was something where I felt like I needed to be exactly where my feet were, and he did pretty good. He did pretty good."

Lebby was one of the most sought-after offensive coaches in the country, but Saban and Alabama eventually hired Tommy Rees as their offensive coordinator for the 2023 season.

Rees helped lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC title last season but left to take the tight ends and pass game specialist job in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.

---

#3 Lane Kiffin's social media posts

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin worked with Lebby when they were both on the Rebels coaching staff during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Their relationship has become a bit murky since then, though.

Kiffin had made hurtful comments about Lebby's weight in a video from 2020 and most recently reposted a meme in November involving him and Lebby. The meme reposted by Kiffin depicts the Ole Miss coach carrying Lebby on his shoulders as if he were a small child.

Lebby was asked about Kiffin's actions on social media during SEC Media Days 2024.

"Little childish, but that doesn't mean I don't respect him."

He was also asked about their current relationship, to which Lebby replied:

"Respect the heck out of who he is, what he's done, the job he's done and the energy he's created up the road. There's no doubt about it. Respect the heck out of what he's done."

Lebby will lead Mississippi State when they close out their 2024 regular season on the road against Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels on Nov. 29.

---

What do you think was the most interesting thing Jeff Lebby said during SEC Media Days 2024? Let's know in the comments: