Nick Saban believes Bill O’Brien wants to stay at Alabama

Is Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien interested in replacing Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots? Not according to Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

With McDaniels now coaching the Las Vegas Raiders, the New England Patriots are looking for a new offensive coordinator. And Chris Mason of Masslive.com explored the possibility of O’Brien returning to New England to replace McDaniels. In comments to Mason, though, Saban said he doesn’t believe that O’Brien is interested in leaving Alabama.

“Bill’s done a great job for us here and Bill’s had a very successful career,” Saban said on Wednesday, per Mason. “I don’t think Bill is trying to leave. I think he likes it at Alabama and we have an opportunity with some pretty good players at the quarterback position and other positions to continue to grow and develop here offensively, and I think he’s looking forward to that challenge.”

Certainly, it would make sense for Belichick and the Patriots to be interested in O’Brien. He’s familiar with the New England organization, having served as an assistant there from 2007-2011. In 2011, O’Brien was the offensive coordinator. Following that season, he became the head coach at Penn State and was replaced as offensive coordinator by a returning McDaniels.

If O’Brien were to return to New England, there would be one big difference—no Tom Brady. But while many Belichick assistants have struggled after leaving New England, O’Brien fared better. He was 15-9 in two years as Penn State’s coach. Given that he was the first coach of the Nittany Lions following the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal and had to deal with all of the sanctions that came from that, a winning record over those two seasons was no small achievement.

O’Brien’s tenure as head coach of the Houston Texans didn’t end well. Overall, though, it wasn’t bad. With O’Brien as head coach, the Texans went 52-48 and won four AFC South titles.

The 2021 season was O’Brien’s first as offensive coordinator at Alabama. And while the Crimson Tide struggled in some big moments, they statistically had one of the best offenses in the country. Alabama was seventh in total offense, second in total yards gained, and seventh in offensive touchdowns.

So, while Saban may have been given no indication that O’Brien wants to leave, it’s hard to imagine he’s not on New England’s radar.

[Chris Mason]