Saban, who told Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne that the job was "getting more and more difficult" and that the two sides were going to have to assess the situation on a "year-to-year basis" after the 2022 season, expressed that the vibrant nature of college football's transfer portal and NIL dealings were a primary part of his decision to step down.

Saban didn't feel like he could offer a guarantee that he would still be working for four more years, something he expressed on "The Pat McAfee Show" less than a week before he retired. For the coach, the recruiting, scheming and organizing were simply taking a toll. He made a point to dispel multiple rumors implying otherwise.

Why did Nick Saban retire at Alabama? "I don't think there's any good time," Saban said of his timing to retire. "Especially when you're a coach. Because once you're a coach you think you're gonna be a coach forever.