Jonathan Allen Thinks Nick Saban Will Coach For a Long Time
Nick Saban recently signed a contract extension that will keep him in Tuscaloosa through the 2024 season, but one of his most decorated players thinks the head coach might even stay longer than that.
During a recent appearance on The Game, former Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen was asked about Saban's motivation to keep working long hours in pursuit of another championship.
"I'd say winning motivates him," Allen told host Ryan Fowler. "That's why he coaches, that's why he plays the game, and that's why I believe he'll play the game until he dies. I'm just being honest. Nothing will make that man happy except winning another championship."
If that might seem like an exaggeration, consider that the Crimson Tide's other legendary coach, Bear Bryant, passed away just weeks after his final game. But Saban maintains a much healthier lifestyle than the Bryant did, and the 65-year-old seems as focused and energetic as he was when he arrived in 2007.
"If you're a fan of Alabama, you see how it goes," Allen told host Ryan Fowler. "Coach Saban's gonna be here until he's forced to stop playing or stop coaching. And as long as Alabama has Coach Saban, they're going to be a contender every here."
Allen even provided a guess at the number of years and championships Saban would coach before he finishes.
"If I had to guess, I'd probably say, at least, at a minimum of eight or nine more years. Probably two to three more national championships in that span, if not more."
So far, Saban's teams have won four titles in ten seasons with two additional College Football Playoff appearances. Alabama fell just one second short of its fifth national championship in January, a team that Allen played a big role on.
You can check out the full interview with the All-American and 2016 SEC Defensive Player of the Year in the video above.