Clemson's Dabo Swinney Makes Major Statement on Potential Retirement

The Clemson Tigers hired Dabo Swinney as the head coach of the program in 2008, and he has turned them into a powerhouse in college football.

Swinney is now 56 years old, and the question of retirement came up, which he quickly rebutted. 

"Hell no. I mean, I'm just getting going," Swinney said. "I'm right about the same age Nick (Saban) was when he got to Alabama. So I'm just getting going, man. I love a challenge, and again, all we've done is win."

Swinney has been impressive during his time at Clemson, holding a 187-53 record. He has also won nine ACC titles and two National Championships in four appearances. 

"Sometimes, people want me to be like this guy or that guy, and I'm like, 'What's that guy done? How many championships has that guy won?' I've got 11 championships," Swinney said. "The next closest is Kirby [Smart], who's got six. I've got seven playoff appearances. There ain't another coach still coaching with seven playoff appearances."

With Swinney remaining as the coach for the Tigers, he will be looking for a bounce-back season in 2026. Clemson is coming off a season where they missed the College Football Playoff and the ACC Title Game with a 7-6 record.

As the Tigers head into the upcoming season, they will have a ton of talent to replace, as nine players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Clemson's quarterback position will be key to monitor, with Christopher Vizzina or Tait Reynolds taking over as the starter, with Cade Klubnik now a part of the New York Jets.

While there are plenty of changes to the roster, Swinney also made some moves with the coaching staff. He fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley at the end of the season to bring in Chad Morris for his second stint in the position.

They also brought in Rich Bisaccia as the special teams coordinator, who has a ton of NFL coaching experience.

While Swinney has been the coach for the Tigers for 18 years, he still has more in the tank and will look to lead them to a turnaround season in 2026.

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