Drew Brees Dolphins what if sits at the center of this video. Nick Saban walks through the choice, the medical exam, and the quiet 72 hour wait with the agent. He says Miami wanted Brees, then the exam stopped it. The scene feels calm, but the details carry weight. One call from doctors changed two plans. Brees to the Saints. Saban to college. You can hear the pause in his voice when he talks about it. The what if hangs over every line.
The call that stopped a deal
Saban says the Dolphins chose Brees. The money was lined up. Then the doctors failed Brees on the physical. That is when the plan fell apart. He has said it many times. He wanted Brees. The show turns that memory into a clear scene. He did not fight the medical staff. Miami moved on.
“We chose Drew Brees. That is the guy we made the first offer to.”
– Nick Saban on The Dan Le Batard Show
From there the league moved in real time. Brees went to New Orleans in 2006. Miami traded for Daunte Culpepper, who was coming back from a knee injury. Saban lasted 2 seasons in Miami, then left for Alabama. He has admitted he might still be in the NFL if he had signed Brees. That is the sting. He knew the right target. He lost the call he needed.
How New Orleans rose and Miami waited
The Saints got a leader who fit the city. In the 2009 season they won the title, and Brees was the Super Bowl MVP. It was the first ring in team history. It felt like a civic reset after a hard time. The numbers backed the vibes. The offense lit up the league. The dome felt loud again.
Miami watched that rise from a distance. The search for a long term answer under center went on. Saban built a dynasty in Tuscaloosa. The lesson sits in both places. Trust matters. Alignment matters. Medical risk calls can swing a decade. One exam shaped where a coach worked and how a city felt about its team. That is not a small thing. It is a what if that never gets old.
I’m a sports and pop culture junkie who loves the buzz of a big match and the comfort of a great story on screen. When I’m not chasing highlights and hot takes, I’m planning the next trip, hunting for underrated films or debating the best clutch moments with anyone who will listen.
