Najee Harris says he often fights with Alabama coach Nick Saban

Najee Harris mentioned that he did not get along with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban in the latest episode of The Pivot Podcast.

“Me and Saban man, we did not get along at first,” Harris told podcast hosts Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor.

“We had a couple of arguments at first because he just didn’t understand what type of dude I was. I don’t know how many Cali dudes he had … I’m not the type of dude to sit back and just let somebody talk to me, I guess, in a way and expect me not to say something.”

Harris explained that he was not the type that liked to stay silent, and Saban was not used to having someone talk back at him.

“I can take coaching,” he said, “but, like, it’s just a certain type of line when you cross, like all right, bro, I’m a man, you ain’t gonna talk to me like that … Coach me. Don’t think you’re more than just a coach to me. Don’t try to belittle. I felt like I was belittled.”

Harris said he had several fights with Saban. He recalled an incident where he made Saban feel frustrated. Harris said Saban once threatened to kick him out of practice.

“So, we had a couple arguments, man. Another incident, like, I always got into fights there,” he said. “So he’s like, ‘Goddamnit, 22, you’re always fighting. Like, it’s always you — you can do it again. You’re leaving practice.’ So I’m like, fuck this deal. We just bumped heads a lot.

“Last incident happened, and I left school. I left school for like two weeks—people didn’t know that. I left school for like two weeks and then Saban sat me in his office.”

Harris said the event was a turning point in their relationship. He asserted that, after the event, Saban tried to be more understanding of him.

“We exchanged words and from that point on,” Harris added, “he took time out of his day to understand who I really am. Ever since that day, we were rock solid. Other people will lie about relationships, like, ‘Oh yeah, we clicked right on.’ Nah, bro, it was not like that with me and Coach Saban.”

Harris described his current relationship with Saban as “rock solid”.

In the episode, Harris also compared Saban with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. He underlined the two coaches’ different approaches to understanding their players.

“Mike T. actually sat down and, like, get to know the players in a way,” Harris said.

Coach Saban — “and it’s nothing bad, that’s just how he is. I’m my way, you act your way. That’s how he acts. And Mike T acts his way. It’s just two different players. They all want to win.”

Despite their quarrels, Harris and Saban still made it work. They fought side by side to win two national titles.