Nick Saban endorses Brian Daboll for Penn State coaching job as search ramps up

Penn State parted ways with head coach James Franklin on Oct. 12, just one day after Northwestern upset the Nittany Lions.

Franklin has since accepted a job at Virginia Tech, while Penn State continues to search for someone to fill its head coaching vacancy. Multiple reports have linked Brian Daboll to Penn State. The New York Giants fired Daboll as head coach earlier this month after 3.5 seasons.

Amid the speeches, legendary college football coach Nick Saban backed Daboll. Saban said Daboll would be an “exceptional hire” for Penn State.

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Saban has familiarity with Daboll’s coaching. Daboll worked under Saban when he was Alabama’s offensive coordinator during the Crimson Tide’s run to the College Football Playoff national championship in 2017.

Saban touched on his successful one-year run with Daboll and also highlighted Daboll’s other accomplishments as an assistant coach in the NFL.

“I love Brian. He’s done a great job with us here. He’s the offensive coordinator, we won the championship with him calling the plays. He’s been to the Super Bowl a few times. [Bill] Belichick and he won,” Saban said during an appearance on ESPN on Wednesday. “The Pat McAfee Show.”

LSU is reportedly moving to make it official to fire BRIAN KELLY

Before landing the head coaching opportunity with the Giants, Daboll served as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

“I think he’s in a tough spot with the Giants, but I think he’s a very good coach. He’s a smart guy. He’s a good transfer specialist,” Saban continued.

“He establishes good relationships with the players. He is a good teacher. He has a good offensive mind. He will be able to form a good squad. I think this will be an outstanding hire.”

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban before the SEC championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Dec. 2, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (John David Mercer/USA Today Sports)

Earlier this month, The Athletic reported that Daboll was “believed to be interested” in the Penn State job and was “expected to receive some consideration.”

The report also noted that Daboll has received support from “some former NFL players with strong ties to Penn State.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban and assistant coach Brian Daboll during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Commodore Stadium in Nashville on September 23, 2017. (Jamie Gilliam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Penn State has won its last two games after a narrow loss to No. 2 Indiana in Week 11. The Nittany Lions travel to New Jersey for the regular season finale against Rutgers on Saturday.

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