Watch: Tua Tagovailoa Finds Out Nick Saban Is Retiring In Viral Video

Getty Image / Kevin C. Cox

Everyone was stunned on Wednesday by the news that legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban was retiring. While the coach is 72 years old, it still seemed like he was at or near the top of his game still.

It was one of those moments for many sports fans where they will remember where they were when the heard the news. For former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, we have his reaction to finding out the news on video.

The Miami Dolphins are the focus of HBO’s Hard Knocks: In Season With The Miami Dolphins, which means camera crews are always around the Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa.

And, the cameras were rolling when the Crimson Tide legend found out. Take a look.

I’m sure dozens of Alabama players around the NFL had that same reaction to the news that their coach was hanging it up following seventeen phenomenal years at Alabama that saw him capture six national championships.

Tagovailoa played at Alabama for Coach Saban from 2017-2019. He was the backup to current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as a freshman, before Saban made one of the most famous coaching decisions in the history of college football.

After falling behind Georgia 13-0 in the national championship game, Saban benched Hurts and inserted Tagovailoa. Tua went on to throw three touchdowns, including the national championship winner to Devonta Smith in overtime, and the starting job was his.

He was sensational for the Crimson Tide, throwing for 7400 yards and 87 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, good for an incredible 199 passing efficiency rating. The Tide lost in the national title game in 2019, and a late-season ankle injury kept Tagovailoa out of some big games down the stretch in 2019 and kept the Tide out of the College Football Playoffs.

It’s not hard to say that Tagovailoa was the best quarterback that Nick Saban ever coached at Alabama.

Of course, most of Tagovailoa’s focus is on Saturday night’s playoff game on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. Meanwhile, Alabama has hired Kalen DeBoer to replace Nick Saban.