2026 NFL Draft: Nick Saban caught on hot mic trashing Cowboys' first-round pick: 'Wow, this is a reach'
Nick Saban wasn't a big fan of one of the Cowboys' picks Thursday.
A word of warning to all broadcasters: If you’re wearing a microphone, don’t risk saying anything that you wouldn’t repeat in front of millions. You never know when that microphone is still on. Former Alabama coach-turned-analyst Nick Saban learned that the hard way during the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday.
As ABC returned from a commercial break, Saban was caught on a hot mic trashing the Dallas Cowboys’ upcoming selection in the draft. Just before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Cowboys’ selection of edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 overall pick, Saban could be heard saying, “Wow, this is a reach” on the broadcast.
"This is a reach" 😬 pic. twitter. com/60zloMY8nq — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 24, 2026 The comment came at an awkward time.
The broadcast had just come back from a commercial break, but had not officially welcomed back viewers yet. Saban almost certainly believed his mic was muted or that the program had not come back from break yet when he made that comment. After a few beats of silence, Rece Davis re-introduced the program to viewers.