Nick Saban Used Profanity Regarding Ian Rapoport
The former Alabama coach shared his blunt opinion on the NFL reporter during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Football
Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban used a profanity to describe NFL reporter Ian Rapoport during an interview on the Pat McAfee Show. Despite the remark, Saban noted that he considers Rapoport to be objective and fair.
Why it matters
The interaction highlighted the long-standing and often contentious relationship between Saban and the media. Saban previously became famous for dismissing media praise as rat poison during his tenure at Alabama.
Ian Rapoport covered the Alabama football beat for 3 years for The Birmingham News between 2006 and 2009. The interaction follows Saban's historical tendency to view media coverage critically, such as his 2017 rat poison remark.
The players
Nick Saban
He is a former college football coach who led the Alabama Crimson Tide to multiple national championships and currently serves as an ESPN analyst.
Ian Rapoport
He is a prominent national NFL insider and reporter who previously covered the Alabama Crimson Tide during the early years of the Saban era.
Pat McAfee
He is a former professional punter turned sports media personality who hosts a popular daily talk show that features frequent appearances by prominent sports figures.
College GameDay
This is a long-running ESPN pregame show that analyzes college football games and features analysis from former coaches and athletes.
The details
Saban, who retired from coaching in early 2024 and currently works as an ESPN analyst on College GameDay, answered a direct question about Rapoport. While he used a profanity to describe the reporter, he simultaneously acknowledged Rapoport’s professional fairness dating back to his time covering Alabama.
Timeline
Ian Rapoport covered the Alabama team from 2006 through 2009.
Rapoport departed his Alabama coverage role for the Patriots in 2009.
Saban famously labeled media praise as rat poison in October 2017.
Nick Saban announced his retirement from coaching in early 2024.
The profanity remark occurred on the Pat McAfee Show on September 25, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This exchange follows the pattern set by the 2017 rat poison media commentary. It underscores the ongoing tension between high-profile coaches and the media, which remains a defining narrative in the sport.
The comment serves as a reminder of the historical relationship between Saban and his media critics. It illustrates the high-stakes environment of sports journalism and how personal history shapes public perceptions of coverage.
The takeaway
Professional relationships in sports media often carry a long, complex history that can resurface years later. Readers should note that even veteran analysts remain influenced by the intense scrutiny of their past coaching careers.
Further reading
For more on the current landscape of college athletics, visit our Football section.
