Crimson Tribute: Alabama to Unveil Second Nick Saban Statue on Walk of Champions to Cement Legendary Coach’s Enduring Legacy

The University of Alabama is set to immortalize a man who not only restored the Crimson Tide to its dynastic heights but also reshaped the entire landscape of college football. In a historic and deeply symbolic tribute, Alabama will unveil a second statue of Nick Saban on the Walk of Champions outside Bryant-Denny Stadium—solidifying the coach’s unparalleled impact on the program, the university, and the sport as a whole.

The decision to erect a second statue of Saban is unprecedented in the school’s rich football history, and it’s not a move made lightly. But then again, few figures in the history of college athletics have accomplished what Saban has during his legendary tenure in Tuscaloosa. His first statue, unveiled after Alabama’s 2009 national title—the first of six he won with the Tide—already stands among the likenesses of other Alabama championship-winning coaches. The new statue, however, will commemorate not a single title but an era, an empire, and a legacy that will stand as long as college football is played.

For many Alabama fans, the news is a welcome chance to celebrate a man who became synonymous with excellence. Saban’s tenure, which lasted from 2007 to 2023, yielded a staggering six national championships, nine SEC titles, and a culture of relentless competitiveness that turned Alabama into the gold standard of modern college football. His 201 victories with the Crimson Tide not only make him the winningest coach in program history but also place him among the most revered names in the sport’s pantheon.

University President Stuart Bell said in a statement, “Coach Saban’s contributions to this university go far beyond football. He brought pride, discipline, and a sense of purpose that lifted our entire community. This second statue is not just about wins—it’s about leadership, consistency, and the enduring spirit of the Crimson Tide.”

The new statue, designed by acclaimed sculptor Edward Jonas, will portray Saban in a more reflective posture, contrasting with the arms-raised pose of the first statue. According to the university, this version will depict Saban in his trademark game-day attire, headset in hand, mid-instruction—capturing the coach not just as a winner, but as a teacher, a tactician, and a leader of young men. It will be placed on the northern edge of the Walk of Champions, symbolically looking out over the entrance to Bryant-Denny Stadium where thousands of fans pass on game days, reminding them of the foundation he laid.

The placement is deliberate, meant to symbolize a “guardian of the standard,” as athletic director Greg Byrne put it. “Coach Saban’s presence here shaped generations of players, fans, and coaches. His influence didn’t stop at Alabama—it reached every corner of the sport,” Byrne said. “This statue isn’t just for us. It’s for anyone who’s ever looked up to the ideals of hard work, preparation, and execution.”

Indeed, Saban’s philosophy—the “Process”—became more than a buzzword in Tuscaloosa; it became a way of life. Players under Saban were expected to focus on preparation, fundamentals, and mental discipline. It wasn’t about the scoreboard—it was about domination through detail. And it worked. Over 40 of his players were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, many going on to become stars at the professional level. Former players speak reverently of the man, often describing how Saban’s lessons stuck with them long after they left Alabama.

“Coach Saban changed my life,” said Julio Jones, one of the earliest stars of the Saban era. “He taught me how to approach every day with purpose. That second statue? He deserves it a hundred times over.”

Saban’s second act in Tuscaloosa was more than just trophies. He was deeply involved in the university community, spearheading charitable initiatives with his wife Terry through the Nick’s Kids Foundation, which has donated millions of dollars to causes across Alabama. His players not only excelled on the field but also achieved at high levels in the classroom, with the team posting some of its highest graduation rates in history during his tenure.

The announcement of the new statue comes at a poignant time. Saban stepped down following the 2023 season, ending his coaching career with a loss in the College Football Playoff semifinals—a fitting final act on the grandest stage. His departure marked the end of one of the greatest coaching runs in the history of American sports. In the months since, tributes have poured in from every corner of the football world, but the new statue represents something far more lasting than applause.

It represents immortality.

Saban’s retirement has left a vacuum not only in Tuscaloosa but also in the SEC, where his presence loomed like a colossus for nearly two decades. Programs rose and fell trying to match his standard. Coaches came and went, often measured by their performance against Alabama. Through it all, Saban remained the constant—stoic on the sideline, adjusting with the times, evolving from a defensive guru into an architect of offensive juggernauts.

Now, as Alabama transitions into a new era under Kalen DeBoer, who replaced Saban in 2024, the second statue is a bridge between past and future. It serves as both a reminder and a challenge: the expectation of greatness never wavers in Tuscaloosa.

Not everyone initially welcomed the idea of a second statue. Some questioned the optics, wondering if it bordered on excess. But for many in the Alabama family, the sentiment is clear—there is no overstating what Saban has meant to the university.

“To understand why this second statue matters,” said former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, “you have to understand what Alabama football was before Coach got here. We had talent, we had tradition, but we didn’t have a direction. Coach gave us identity, gave us belief, gave us championships. He built something nobody thought was possible in the modern game.”

The unveiling ceremony, set for the fall before Alabama’s season opener, is expected to draw thousands of fans, alumni, and former players. The university will hold a weekend-long celebration that includes a tribute dinner, a panel featuring members of Saban’s staff and former players, and the official statue reveal followed by a night game in Bryant-Denny—a spectacle fitting of the man being honored.

For Nick Saban, the second statue may not mean as much as a defensive stop or a flawless practice rep. In typical fashion, he’s downplayed the honor in private conversations, reportedly telling colleagues that “it’s not about statues, it’s about people.” And yet, those very people—generations of players, coaches, fans, and families—will now walk the path he paved, looking up at the twin images of a man who made the impossible look routine.

When the sun hits the new bronze sculpture on an Alabama game day, casting a long shadow across the concrete below, it will do more than honor a coach. It will honor a philosophy, a mindset, and a moment in time when excellence was the expectation, and Alabama stood atop the college football world under one man’s leadership.

The legacy of Nick Saban isn’t just about what he built, but how he built it. With toughness, precision, humility, and a relentless commitment to excellence, Saban made Alabama not just a college football powerhouse but a symbol of sustained greatness. The second statue is more than a monument—it is a message. A message to future generations that the standard is not just something to admire. It is something to live up to.

And thanks to this tribute, the memory and message of Nick Saban will endure in bronze, in hearts, and in the roaring echo of a packed Bryant-Denny Stadium for decades to come.