Nick Saban waves his hand in the air.
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Nick Saban's Surprise Retirement Shocks College Football World

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is retiring after 17 seasons in Alabama. The 72-year-old coach won seven national titles in his career.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban, whose seven national championships are more than any coach in NCAA history, is retiring, according to ESPN's Chris Low. Low reported the news Wednesday afternoon and said Saban has already told his team.

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The news comes nine days after the Crimson Tide lost in overtime to eventual national champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl, meaning Saban's final season won't be one ending with him holding the national title trophy.

The 72-year-old coach spent 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa coaching the Crimson Tide and won six national championships there and one at LSU. He's easily the greatest college football coach ever, and his accomplishments do the talking for him:

  • 297-71-1 Career Record
  • 7 National Championships
  • 11 SEC Championships
  • 1 MAC Championship
  • 5x SEC Coach of Year
  • 2x Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Winner
  • 2x Walter Camp Coach of the Year
  • 2x AP Coach of the Year

On top of his personal accolades, Saban mentored numerous star players, including four Heisman Trophy winners: Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young.

The reactions across the college football world have been the same sentiment. In one word: shocking.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders didn't expect Saban's retirement so soon:

Many fans and commentators simply congratulated the legend:

Meanwhile, Alabama now becomes the most attractive head coaching job in college football. Names like Oregon's Dan Lanning and Clemson's Dabo Swinney have already been thrown around as to who might replace Saban.

The thing is, there is no replacing someone like Nick Saban. Hats off to the greatest college football coach ever.

MORE: Paul Finebaum Sounds Off on Nick Saban's Future at Alabama