Deion Sanders thinks he knows why Nick Saban is retiring

Apr 22, 2023; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders during the first half of the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado coach Deion Sanders was as shocked by Nick Saban’s retirement as everyone else, but he thinks he knows what led to the coach’s decision.

Sanders reacted to Saban’s retirement on X, suggesting that the state of college football factored into Saban’s decision.

The Colorado coach encouraged college football to look in the mirror and consider how the “game has change(d) so much that it chased the GOAT away.”

“WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement. WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let’s hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see,” Sanders wrote.

WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement. WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let's hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see. #CoachPrime @CUBuffsFootball

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 10, 2024

Without Saban saying anything publicly, Sanders’ opinion is speculative. However, Saban has been critical of recent changes to the sport, including the unregulated issues with name, image and likeness, as well as the increased ability to transfer. The rules of the sport Saban is currently coaching have changed so much in the last few years, it’s nothing like 10 years ago, much less when Saban got into coaching.

College football has started to become a junior version of the NFL and will only get worse. And these players get to transfer every year if they want.

Interestingly, Sanders is known for taking advantage of some of these changes, though even he has some complaints about how far things have gone.

Saban is also 72, so there are some reasons his shocking retirement does make some sense. Still, it would not be a surprise if the major changes to the sport did accelerate his decision.