There isn’t a football fan in the known universe who doesn’t know the name Nick Saban. The man is undeniably the greatest college football coach in history, owning seven national championships and a 292–71–1 career record. His place in the Hall of Fame was secured long ago, and he has a case for the greatest football coach in history. It is little wonder Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus sees him as a mentor. The two crossed paths in 1990 when Saban was the head coach at Toledo and Eberflus was a linebacker.
Eberflus never forgot the lessons he learned during that brief season together. The two have kept up correspondence ever since. In fact, the Bears head coach asked the now-retired legend to visit Halas Hall, where they had a one-on-one meeting. Eberflus took the chance to ask Saban for any advice he could offer on how to move forward, especially regarding quarterback Caleb Williams. His response was as wise as you’d expect. He made it clear that nothing will kill the young man faster than expectations. If Eberflus lets outside expectations dictate his decisions, it will be a disaster.
Nothing is more important than the development process. HBO cameras for Hard Knocks caught the conversation.
For much of his coaching career, the quarterbacks weren’t overly important to his team’s success. However, as the game evolved over the past decade, he realized he had to place greater emphasis on the position. That led him to bring guys like Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, and Bryce Young through Tuscaloosa. Saban wasn’t perfect. Some of his decisions with Hurts led to the young QB getting benched and eventually transferring. The lessons he learned helped Tagovailoa thrive. He has gone on to become a Pro Bowler in Miami. Young won a Heisman trophy after he took over and became the #1 overall pick in 2023.
Eberflus knows Nick Saban can point him in the right direction with Williams. Don’t forget, the two men are both defensive guys. Saban was never an offensive expert during his coaching career. He had to learn how to manage players on that side of the ball. Quarterbacks were the toughest hurdle to clear. It appears he quickly understood that sticking to the plan is essential for development. Don’t deviate just because people outside your building want it. Williams is the focus, not them.
