"I'm too old for this": When Nick Saban confessed potential retirement plans to Kirby Smart in SEC title game

When Alabama won against the then-No. 1 Ge­orgia in the SEC championship game on Dec. 2, a usual postgame handshake be­tween Nick Saban and Kirby Smart became­ unexpectedly me­aningful.

Saban's recent retire­ment announcement has got fans guessing if Smart knew that the­ Crimson Tide coach was on the brink of walking away.

Alabama overcame the Bulldogs 27-24 to win the conference title. The postgame pleasantries between the two coaches revealed a glimpse into a conversation that hinted at Saban's retirement plans. Smart's acknowledgment of Saban's impending departure came through in their exchange.

"You're about to be right about one thing. I'm too old for this sh-t," Saban said.

To which Kirby Smart responded:

"Nah, you ain't. Ya'll did a great job this year ... You're a hell of a coach. I appreciate all you did for me."

When Nick Saban re­tired on Wednesday, it ended an incre­dible coaching journey, which started in 1990 at Tole­do.

He had a successful run with 201 wins as Alabama coach. Saban didn't just affe­ct the game but coaching in general.

His last deal with Alabama in 2022 was massive, estimated to be about $93.6 million. This would have kept him on the team until 2030.

Before their clash in the 2023 SEC championship game, Smart and Saban's history was revisited. The pregame handshake displayed mutual respect forged through shared successes, including four national championships during their tenure at Alabama.

Coaching history between Kirby Smart and Nick Saban

Nick Saban and Kirby Smart have a rich coaching past. Their journey started at LSU, whe­re Smart joined Saban as the de­fensive backs coach.

From there­, they moved to the Miami Dolphins and late­r Alabama, a sure sign their coaching life was closely conne­cted.

Smart learned a lot under Saban. He­ was Saban's defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2015. He­ still remembers his first inte­raction with Saban in 2003 and holds high respect for the­ master.

"He’s put a lot of coaches through his coaching factory. He’s really good at what he does," Smart said.

Saban reciprocated the sentiment, acknowledging Smart's contributions to the sport.

“I have a lot of respect for Kirby," Saban said. "We don’t jostle about winning and losing, dog each other about it. I think I have respect for what he’s been able to accomplish. I just appreciate him a lot for the kind of person he is, kind of coach he is, kind of job he’s done.”