Former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs, who spent three seasons playing under legendary head coach Nick Saban, opened up about their relationship during an appearance on The Pivot Podcast.
Jacobs explained that Saban often commands such a strong presence that many people are hesitant to speak candidly around him. “A lot of people walk on eggshells around him,” Jacobs said, “but if you’ve got the courage to speak your mind and be real with him, he respects that.”
While Saban is often perceived as intense and hard-edged, Jacobs offered a different perspective. He shared that their relationship was built on honesty and open communication. “People ask me how we were so close, like how he could joke with me and stuff,” Jacobs said. “It’s because I kept it real with him. I’d tell him straight up when he was wrong.”
Jacobs noted that while many—players and staff alike—were too intimidated to challenge Saban, those who did were often the ones he connected with the most. “A lot of people were scared to do that,” he said. “But he’s a fair guy, and to me, he’s the greatest college coach of all time.”
Since leaving Alabama, Jacobs has carved out a successful NFL career, crediting his time with Saban and the tough but honest conversations they shared as instrumental to his development.
