Saban’s greatest regret is that he left LSU to join the Miami Dolphins.

Nick Saban, the greatest college football coach of all time, didn’t always make the right decisions. In fact, in an interview on Ryan Clark’s podcast The Pivot, Saban talked about what he called the biggest mistake he made in December 2004, when he left LSU for the Miami Dolphins.

“When I left LSU, that was probably the professionally the biggest mistake that I ever made,” Saban said. “Not because we didn’t have success in Miami, because I enjoyed coaching in Miami, but I found out in that experience that I like coaching in college better because could develop players.”

After two seasons with the Dolphins, Saban left to go to Alabama in January 2007. The rest, as they say, is history. Six National Titles, nine SEC Titles. In December, he will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. But Saban was also on an incredible run in Baton Rouge. He had led the Tigers to two SEC Titles and a National Title in 2003. Saban recalled a chat he had with his agent, Jimmy Sexton, when he was grappling with a career choice.

“Jimmy Sexton stood on the balcony when I was getting ready to leave LSU and make a decision whether I went to Miami or stay at LSU,” Saban said “And he said ‘What do you want your legacy to be as a coach? Do you want to be Vince Lombardi or do you want to be Bear Bryant?’ And without hesitation, I said ‘Bear Bryant.’ And he said ‘What are you doing going to Miami then?’

As it turns out, Saban would finish his career in 2023 having won more National Titles than Bryant, seven total compared to Bryant’s six. All’s well that ends well.