Alabama football coach Nick Saban is retiring after 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide, CBS Sports reported. Saban has won seven national titles in his coaching career, the most recent in 2020. Saban's retirement was first reported by ESPN. Sources later confirmed to 247sports' Matt Zenitz that Saban informed Alabama of his decision on Wednesday.

Saban's retirement was first reported Wednesday by The Tuscaloosa News. Saban, 72, said in a statement Wednesday evening announcing his retirement that he and his wife, Terry, "have enjoyed every minute" of their 17 years at the university and as part of the Tuscaloosa community.

Saban was insistent on telling his players first that he was retiring before it got out publicly and did so Wednesday in a 5 p.m. ET meeting, sources told ESPN's Chris Low. A regular team meeting had been set for Tuesday but was rescheduled for Wednesday when some players weren't able to make it in time because of weather issues.

FILE - Alabama head coach Nick Saban speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Wednesday, July 19, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Nick Saban, the stern coach who won seven national championships and turned Alabama back into a national powerhouse that included six of those titles in just 17 seasons, is retiring, according to multiple reports, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.