Nick Saban’s reign of terror over the college football sphere spanned over 2 decades. Heading into Tuscaloosa was a tryst with fate for the opposition. Teams and coaches were focused on causing an upset while simultaneously trying to avoid embarrassment. But the daunting stature and halo of Nick Saban didn’t just permeate outside Alabama and to their adversaries. It had people in-house terrified, too. That said, you’ve got enigmas in every organization. Those who challenge the hierarchy and power and don’t play by the rules. Saban didn’t intimidate one former player, who even retaliated after feeling wronged. An infamous episode in the chronicles of the Crimson Tide is now finally fleshed out courtesy of said player himself.

Everyone is privy to how Nick Saban ran a tight ship. Not much room for flash and pageantry, and certainly no room for anything that smears the program or overarching spirit of football. Every player needed to be buttoned up, both literally and figuratively, to properly represent Alabama. It’s his infatuation with discipline that made Bama the dynastic bluebloods they are. So when one of his running backs got a taunting penalty for flashing their conference counterpart Ole Miss’ famous Landshark gesture against them, you know Saban had some choice words for him. Except, things got a little too heated. So much so that they boiled over and created a mess.

The Green Bay Packers’ RB Josh Jacobs is the cat’s meow. In a year where the likes of Saquon Barkley and Ashton Jeanty have resuscitated the fading position back into vogue across both rungs of the sport, Jacobs’ own excellence has been glossed over a little bit. But don’t sleep on his 2024. He isn’t new to this either. He’s true to this. Remember him at Alabama? Jacobs was a stud in Crimson as well. However, his time with Bama wasn’t seamless. Being in a stacked RB room with Damien Harris, Najee Harris and Brian Robinson means opportunities can be hard to come by. Moments of success are limited and infrequent. So when Jacobs took it to the endzone in a game against Ole Miss in 2018, the emotions were high. It led to a sticky situation with Nick Saban. Which Josh Jacobs has finally spilled the beans on.

Josh Jacobs guested on “The Pivot Podcast” earlier this week. Amid some interesting anecdotes from his time with the Raiders and Packers, one from Alabama was of particular note. Host and retired NFL vet Ryan Clark straightforwardly asked him about the fiery exchange between him and Nick Saban during the aforementioned game. Jacobs obliged and laid down the full picture.

“I scored a touchdown, and I got a taunting penalty…So in typical Saban fashion, especially with something that’s controllable, he cussed me out,” said Josh Jacobs. “So I’m like, ‘Ah s–t.’ [But] I eat it. I gotta eat that. But then a couple of drives went by [and] he came back. He tried to cuss me out again.” This is where things went south, as you’d imagine. Jacobs was on smoke. He’d even spoken about already being frustrated with his lack of carries and usage by Saban.

Proceeding with the story, Josh Jacobs said, “I got up. You know, Saban’s short! So I’m like, ‘Bro what we on?’…I’m mad, I’m on that for real with him.” Sheesh. Jacobs said this was right before halftime. So during the break, he took off his pads and equipment in protest. He even said he was considering transferring away from Alabama at that moment. However, in a twisted way, this incident led to Jacobs gaining some leverage. “Long story short, I came back out [after HT]. I was the kick returner. I took it [74] yards. Didn’t even celebrate. I just stared [Nick Saban] down the whole time…the next day, me and him had a meeting. We sat down and we had a real conversation,” said Jacobs. Saban, being the man manager and coach he is, recognized the crux of the situation- Jacobs’ frustration with his usage rate.

Nick Saban took measures with Josh Jacobs, but not the kind you’d have expected

“After that [conversation], they started making plays for me in the offense and things like that. Then my career just started taking off,” resounded Josh Jacobs. This entire ordeal is a microcosm of what makes Nick Saban arguably the greatest to ever grace the sidelines. Turning a negative situation, potentially causing a player to jump ship, into a positive one for both parties. 

Jacobs went on to be a first-round draft pick for the Raiders later that year. He’s been to 3 Pro Bowls since, is on a multi-year second contract worth $48 million, and is unequivocally a top 5 tailback in the sport. You’ve got to commend Josh Jacobs for standing up to a figure of Nick Saban’s ilk. Was it correct? Maybe not. Being provoked by your head coach isn’t ideal. But in hindsight, this incident increased his prominence in Bama’s offense and, by extension, led to better avenues in his career. Making it a watershed moment towards prosperity

Different strokes for different folks. As someone who’s coached thousands of collegiate athletes, Nick Saban realizes everyone needs a different style of management. Most coaches wouldn’t have allowed players in their dressing room to stand up to him like Jacobs did. To retaliate, or to still come back for the 2nd half. But Saban isn’t most coaches, is he?