Although Saban’s final team struggled at the beginning of the 2023 season, the Crimson Tide landed in the College Football Playoffs. On Jan. 1, 2024, Alabama lost the Rose Bowl to Michigan, the eventual national champions.
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Saban said he “couldn’t be prouder” of this year’s team. “This is a great example for a lot of people who want to be successful in terms of the perseverance that these guys showed, the character they had to overcome adversity, the resiliency that they played with.
“They’re truly a team. Everybody’s together,” said Saban. “Everybody trusts and respects the principles and values of the organization and program and [buys] into them. They’re all responsible for their own self-determination, which means they can go do their job.”
 by announcing his retirement. Saban, 72, has previously spoken about his Christian faith and how it affected his leadership style.){kind=link}