Nick Saban explains what hampered his success as Dolphins head coach

C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald on Dec 6, 2024

Published in Football

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MIAMI — Nick Saban doesn’t have the fondest memories at the helm of the Miami Dolphins.

The legendary coach recently reflected on his two-season stint with the Dolphins during Friday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show.” Saban appeared to use his tenure in Miami as a cautionary tale to coaches in search of the next gig, essentially advising his peers to do proper research before taking the job. He, apparently, did not take his own advice.

“I just had a bad case of the dumb ass, that’s all,” Saban told McAfee.

While Saban actually loved being in South Florida, the franchise itself wasn’t in the best position to succeed. He further explained that the Dolphins didn’t have the necessary tools to be successful — great roster, exceptional quarterback, cap room, etc. — when he took the gig in 2005.

“I took the Miami Dolphins job, we were $17 million over the cap, which was a lot back in those days — this was 20 years ago,” Saban recalled. “We had the oldest team in the league. They’re 4-12. Got no quarterback. And I’m thinking ‘I’m going to make it right.’ Well, we had a winning season but we couldn’t get it turned around.”

Saban went 15-17 across his two years with the Dolphins. Although he went 9-7 during the 2005 season, the Dolphins went a dismal 6-10 the following year.

“There were so many obstacles,” Saban continued. “And no draft picks because they gave them all away for Ricky Williams.”

Added Saban: “Do your research in taking a NFL job, regardless of how pretty the city is.”

Here, however, is when context becomes important. The Dolphins had the second pick of the 2005 NFL draft and selected running back Ronnie Brown. Want to know who was also available? Arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Aaron Rodgers.

Saban made a similar mistake the following year when he signed Daunte Culpepper over Drew Brees in free agency. Brees eventually joined the New Orleans Saints, with whom he won Super Bowl XLIV.

“We thought Drew Brees was an outstanding player, and that’s who we made the first offer to,” Saban said, via the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Quite frankly, you know, he didn’t pass the physical with our organization, so we had to go in another direction and there was nothing any of us could do about that.”

Saban would leave Miami after the 2006 season, choosing to coach the University of Alabama, where he built the Rolling Tide program into a national powerhouse. His post-Dolphins resume speaks for itself: six national championships, nine SEC championships, two Walter Camp Coach of the Year awards and countless NFL draft picks.