The Penn State Nittany Lions are still looking for a new head coach. Nick Saban suggested that Brian Daboll would be a good fit at Penn State.
Nick Saban Supports Brian Daboll for Penn State
"I love Brian Daboll and he did a great job here for us..
He's a very good a coach and he's a great recruiter..
I think he would be an outstanding hire for Penn State" ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive https://t.co/gmqYpuhV2P pic.twitter.com/4tbV8eJdCu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 26, 2025
Saban wants to see his former assistant coach get the Penn State job.
The New York Giants fired Daboll earlier this month after four seasons. Before Daboll went to the Buffalo Bills in 2018, he served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under Saban.
That year, Alabama won the College Football Playoff.
Because of their time together, Saban knows Daboll is fit to be a head coach at the college level.
“I love Brian,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show. “He did a great job here for us as our offensive coordinator. We won the championship with him calling the plays. He’s been in the Super Bowl several times with [Bill] Belichick and won. I think it was a tough situation with the Giants, but he’s a very good coach. He’s a bright guy, a good recruiter, relates to players, a good teacher, good offensive mind. He’ll put together a strong staff. I think that would be an outstanding hire.”
Daboll predominantly worked in the NFL, most notably as an assistant with the New England Patriots and as an offensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills. Daboll is credited with helping Josh Allen transform into an elite quarterback.
In January 2022, the Giants hired Daboll to be their next head coach. In Daboll’s first season, the Giants made the playoffs and, as the No. 7 seed, upset the No. 2 Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round.
Daboll won the NFL’s Coach of the Year.
After the playoff victory, the Giants never won more than 6 games in a season. After a 2-8 start to the 2025 campaign, the Giants fired Daboll.
Penn State Football Candidates
Kalen DeBoer’s odds to be the next Penn State head coach are surging fast on Kalshi
DeBoer’s odds have doubled over the last couple days
Bob Chesney still sits at the top with best odds, with DeBoer closing in and Terry Smith with third best pic.twitter.com/bTteOvrchn
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) November 26, 2025
Last month, Penn State fired head coach James Franklin after 12 seasons. Franklin went 104-45, with a Big Ten Championship in 2016, a Rose Bowl in 2022, and a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance in 2024.
However, Franklin could never beat the elite teams, finishing with a 4-21 record against AP Top 10 opponents.
Franklin is now the head coach at Virginia Tech.
Now, Penn State needs to find a new coach.
James Madison’s Bob Chesney is one of the leading candidates. Since taking over for Curt Cignetti, Chesney is 19-5, including 10-1 this season.
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith is gaining favor within the program and could be promoted to head coach with a strong finish.
