ESPN and Words + Pictures announced on Thursday that Saban, a “landmark multi-part ESPN Original docuseries chronicling the life, legacy and extraordinary career of Hall of Fame coach Nick Saban,” will premiere on Thursday, October 8, with all six episodes being made available on the ESPN app at launch.
The first episode will debut on ESPN’s network on October 8 at 6 p.m. ET, with the remaining five episodes airing throughout October and early November.
Directed by Russell Dinallo and produced by Words + Pictures’ Connor Schell, Libby Geist, Aaron Cohen, and Alexa Conway, along with Tom Rinaldi, with Gabe Honig serving as co-executive producer and showrunner, Saban will chronicle Saban’s 17-season coaching career as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, during which he won six National Championships.
Via his own reflections and the insights of those around him, Saban “peels back the curtain on the long, closely guarded world of the legendary coach, featuring hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage from locker rooms, practice fields and behind-the-scenes moments throughout his tenure at Alabama,” while also touching on his coaching stops with LSU, the Miami Dolphins, and Michigan State.
The docuseries will feature interviews with over 70 people throughout Saban’s life and career, including Bill Belichick, Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Kirby Smart, Tim Tebow, Jalen Hurts, and Tua Tagovailoa, as well as present-day interviews with Saban and his wife, Miss Terry Saban.
“With my coaching days behind me, Miss Terry and I have been doing a lot of reflection and realized we were ready to tell our story,” Saban said. “The team at Words + Pictures has encouraged me to really look back not just at my time at Alabama, but every stop along the way – and not just reflect on what happened but consider the process which made it happen. I interacted with a lot of players and coaches along the way, and I’m happy to see that so many of them have contributed to this docuseries. There’s a lot to tell, and I’m excited to share it all.”
“Nick Saban’s impact extends far beyond the championships and historic success he achieved on the field,” Brian Lockhart, Senior Vice President of ESPN Original Content, said in a statement. “What makes this series so special is the extraordinary access to Coach Saban, Miss Terry, and the people who know him best, paired with rare footage that offers a new perspective on his remarkable journey. Saban is a definitive portrait of one of the most consequential figures in college football history, and we’re proud to share it with fans.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.