Deion Sanders surprised by Nick Saban’s retirement: ‘Just lost the GOAT’

It’s not easy to catch Deion Sanders off guard, but Nick Saban sure did it. The Alabama coach stunned the sports with his retirement, ending a legendary 28 year run that saw six national titles over 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide and another with LSU. He finished his career with a 292 71 1 record and 11 SEC titles.

“WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement,” Sanders wrote . “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, entering his second season as the coach at Colorado, now awaits to see who will take over in Tuscaloosa.

He was not alone in his praise of Saban, who had plenty of voices celebrating his illustrious career. “Coach Saban is the GOAT!! Thanks for believing in a young man from Flint, Michigan,” Saints running back and former Crimson Tide star Mark Ingram II wrote on X . “Helped me become a champion on the field, but more importantly a champion in LIFE.

Enjoy retirement Coach, you earned that!! Love you Coach Saban, ROLL TIDE!” Former Alabama linebacker and two time Pro Bowl NFLer Dont’a Hightower also chimed in. “Enjoy retirement Nicky my boy! Hell of a damn coaching career. Thanks for helping so many young men reach their goals and dreams #RMFT,” he wrote on the social media platform.

Packers running back and Alabama alum Kenyan Drake wrote “happy retirement [GOAT]” and posted an image of himself practicing with Saban looking on during his time in Tuscaloosa. Saban’s wife, Terry, also released a statement following the break of the news. “It has been an incredible run these last 17 years at the University of Alabama and we take with us many amazing memories,” Terry’s statement read on the Nick’s Kids Foundation Facebook page.

“We hope that the Saban legacy will be about helping others and making a positive difference in people’s lives as well as the winning tradition on the field.” On the campus of Alabama, some Crimson Tide fans started placing oatmeal, cream pies and Coca Cola at the foot of the statue of Saban outside Bryant Denny Stadium, according to Bama Central’s Mathey Gibson.

While many paid tribute to Saban’s career, some outside Tuscaloosa were in a bit more of a celebratory mood that the legendary college football coach was retiring. Outside Bryant Denny Stadium, #Alabama fans have placed oatmeal cream pies and coke at the bottom of Nick Saban’s statue. Somber aura around the University’s campus.

pic.twitter.com/k60pBCj6jK Outkick’s Clay Travis even posted a video jokingly mocking his Alabama fan son about what the Crimson Tide will do now that Saban is gone..