By Mark Gray
8:39am PST, Jan 13, 2024
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The football world was rocked on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11 when college football legend and Alabama coach Nick Saban announced his plans to retire and Super Bowl-winning coaches Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll "amicably agreed" to move on from the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.
After the news broke, many in the entertainment and sports worlds took to social media to react.
Keep reading to see what they had to say…
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"I'm incredibly grateful to have played for the best coach in the history of the NFL.
He was a great leader for the organization, and for all of the players who played for him. We accomplished some amazing things over a long period of time, many of which will be hard to replicate. he worked every day to help us achieve the ultimate goal, in the ultimate team sport. And, although we were successful, some of the greatest lessons I learned were in the moments where we faced the most challenging adversities. He set the tone for the organization to never falter in the face of adversity, and to do what we could do, and what was in our control, which was to go out and DO OUR JOB.
I could never have been the player I was without you Coach Belichick. I am forever grateful. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose next." –Tom Brady
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Seattle native Jeffrey Dean Morgan took to X to pay tribute to Pete Carroll, who coached the Seahawks for 14 seasons: "No way I believe this man is done," he wrote. "Thank you coach @PeteCarroll for 14 killer years. Loved em all."
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"Coach Belichick is such a LEGEND!!!! man" —LeBron James
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"I have a ton of respect for Nick Saban and I've enjoyed watching him on the show this year.. Kudos to Nick on a Hall of Fame career and he changed the game" —Aaron Rodgers
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"Thanks Coach Pete Carroll for making Seattle even more magical. Greatest coach we could have ever dreamt for. Statues will be build in your honor. And that Super Bowl with Russ…My oh My thank you." —Joel McHale
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"One of the Greatest Ever. 'Keep Shooting' Coach. Grateful for the memories. @PeteCarroll Best is Ahead." —Russell Wilson
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"WOW! College Football just lost the GOAT to retirement. WOW! I knew it would happen 1 day soon but not this soon. The game has change so much that it chased the GOAT away. College football let's hold up our mirrors and say HONESTLY what u see. #CoachPrime @CUBuffsFootball" —Deion Sanders on Nick Saban
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"He built a dynasty. He's one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. He always had a laugh, a zest for life on the football field. He created such an incredible culture for us at USC, a winning culture, a championship culture, and I owe a lot of my success to… Coach Pete. One of the best to ever do it." —Matt Leinart on Pete Carroll
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"If that really is the end. It was a hell of a run, coach. #FoxboroForever" —former Patriots player Julian Edelman on Bill Belichick
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"You know, Father Time's a d***. Not a nice guy." —Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel
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"I talked to Coach Saban last night. He may be the best or one of the best at what we do. Two examples come to mind: him hugging a struggling kicker during a close overtime loss to LSU in 2011, only to have them come back and beat the Tigers in the national championship. The second was this year. They lose early to Texas and struggle the following week against USF. He then turns the team around to being within a play or two of competing for another championship.
He was at a place where winning wasn't always enough and he handled it with grace.
I admire his focus, but more importantly how he got his teams to focus, on one objective: to win championships! Tremendous run by one of the best to ever do it! Congrats, Coach Saban!" —Kentucky basketball head coach John Calipari
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"I was shocked, man. That threw me off. I knew he had bought that house down in Florida last year, so that was kind of a hint, I guess. But definitely threw me off.
He was a great coach. He was hard on us, he was tough on us, but it was because he knew where that was going to get us." —Steelers player and Alabama alum Minkah Fitzpatrick on Nick Saban
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"Wow!! Surprised but not shocked by Coach Saban stepping down. Best to ever do it. From 2008-2023 he compiled a record of 199-16!!!! That's an average of 12 wins in the last 16 seasons. As consistent and good as the sport has ever seen! Thank you coach for all you put into the great sport of CFB! Excited to see what's next!" —Kirk Herbstreit
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"Hell of a run @PeteCarroll. Thankful for the times we shared. From High School all the way to the NFL. I am grateful for you and your spirit and wisdom. HOF career and human being. Much love and respect!" —former Seahawks star Richard Sherman
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"Think of a wet towel… You take both of your hands and you ring that towel. That towel is the player. Bill Belichick are the hands that ring the water out. And the water is the talent of that player." —former NFL linebacker Tedy Bruschi via Get Up
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"I just feel very lucky, and fortunate, that I had the opportunity to play for him for four years in New England. I learned more football during that tenure than I had throughout my entire career." —former Patriots player Matt Cassel on Bill Belichick
