Kristen Saban has been one of her father’s biggest cheerleaders. Her Instagram feed is your go-to for every update and cheer for Nick Saban, from the Bryant-Denny Stadium field naming to his ESPYS Icon Award win. Well, winning national championships seven times over a 28-season period is no joke. To top it off, Saban achieved a 292-71-1 (.804) record throughout his head coaching career, making multiple stops at Bama, LSU, Michigan State, and Toledo. Even at 73, he’s got that oomph factor, and his influence isn’t limited to college football but extends to the pro league as well. So much so that even with all the buzz around young stars like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter in this hot 2025 NFL draft, Saban still manages to grab some attention. So, it’s time for Kristen to flex, being the GOAT’s daughter. 

Nick Saban is called the most successful coach in modern college football history for a reason. The former college defensive back got his start coaching in the 1970s and got his first head-coaching job in 1990. Do you know the GOAT had replaced Pete Carroll, who was Ohio State’s secondary coordinator in 1979? Saban worked under the head coach Earle Bruce when the Buckeyes finished with 18 wins in 24 games. He and the Buckeyes defense allowed 15.1 points per game in 1980 and 21.1 points per game in 1981. That’s when his college football career hit the pedal. Later on, Saban retired with a career record of 80.4% wins and became the NCAA’s active leader in wins and ranked sixth all-time among FBS coaches.

He also holds the distinction of being the first coach in history to win national crowns at two different FBS schools since the AP Poll’s inception in 1936. So, it’s obvious that this man is going to spread his magic in the NFL, though not directly. The GOAT has been the head coach of the Miami Dolphins for two seasons, from 2005 to 2006. Before that, he had also been the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns under Bill Belichick. However, Kristen takes more pride in the fact that her father modeled NFL top-pick-worthy players.

On April 24, just before the 2025 NFL Draft pulled up the curtains, Kristen posted an IG story. Well, she remained tight-lipped about their alumnus Jalen Milroe flying off to the NFL; it was some ‘Flex Dad’ time. She reshared a post that read, “DRAFT DAY DOMINANCE,” where Saban came off as the ruler.

It had some stats to prove the GOAT’s hold over the big event. The post read, “Nick Saban had more 1st round draft picks (44) than losses (29) while at Alabama.” Offensive tackle Andre Smith was the first offensive player who went as No.6 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2009 NFL Draft. Linebacker Rolando McClain was the first defensive player to go to the Oakland Raiders in the 2010 NFL Draft as the No.8 overall pick. The same year, the Houston Texans landed defensive back Kareem Jackson as the No.20 overall pick. In 2011, when the Atlanta Falcons traded a significant package to move up to No. 6, Julio Jones became the first offensive skill position taken in the first round. Over the recent years, the tradition has been maintained. That 2017 signing class produced eight first-round picks. 

Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle were among the six first-round Alabama draft picks in 2020 and 2021, respectively. In 2023, Bryce Young became the first player coached by Saban at Alabama to be picked No. 1 overall. Now, if we bring other head coaches’ stats into the picture, Georgia has seen 17 first-round picks during Kirby Smart’s time there. Since becoming a head coach in 2017, Lincoln Riley has produced three first-round draft picks. Meanwhile, this is not the first time that Kristen boasted about her father’s legacy on social media.

Nick Saban, a legend among legends

Back in July last year, it was indeed an emotional moment for the GOAT’s daughter. Kristen re-shared a collage initially posted by the SEC Network on her Instagram story. She flaunted the “Saban’s daughter” badge with pride. The IG post that caught her attention was a collage of different legends from different sports. Best to say, a celebrity constellation. However, Saban has been the lone wolf who howled loudest. The caption, “There will never be another Nick Saban,” is likely what touched Kristen’s heart.

And what was the proud daughter’s reaction? Just one word was enough to describe what she felt for her Daddy Cool. Kristen wrote, “Ever (holding back tears emoji).” Now that’s a fair statement. After all, Saban is the one who put Alabama on the elite shelf, ending their 15-year title drought. Just as her father has been a figure to boast about, he created pressure on Kristen in one of the most hilarious ways.

On The Pivot Podcast, host Ryan Clark dug through the past and spilled some hilarious secrets about Nick Saban, some inside scoops straight out of the Saban house. “There’s an old clip of you saying that when young guys would come to your house to date your daughter, you would ask them what they play because you wanted to see what sort of competitor they were.” Being a GOAT himself, the protective father wanted the best ‘man’ for his daughter Kristen Saban to spend her forever with. Luckily, Adam Setas got the green pass from his father-in-law, Saban, as he fell into his criteria of being a sportsman and hence a “competitor.”