Dabo Swinney’s name floated for Alabama football job as Nick Saban retires

For years, rumors have swirled that Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney would be a top target for the Alabama job when Nick Saban decided to move on.

Now that’s being put to the test.

Following an ESPN report Wednesday afternoon that Saban, 72, was retiring after winning six national championships across 17 seasons at Alabama, a handful of national reporters informally connected Swinney to the Crimson Tide.

Dozens of other social media users chimed in with their thoughts on the potential (and long-rumored) fit in Tuscaloosa, given Swinney’s previous ties to the program as a player and a coach before he became an industry star at Clemson.

Speculation was also fueled by the fact Swinney’s current contract features an “Alabama clause” that makes it 1.5 times more expensive for him to leave Clemson for Alabama versus any other school.

The school on Wednesday evening confirmed Saban’s decision to retire.

Alabama coaching search list

ESPN’s Pete Thamel said in a Wednesday post on X (formerly Twitter) that Swinney was part of his “quick projected target list” of candidates for the Crimson Tide, while The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported Oregon coach Dan Lanning is expected to be Alabama’s top target.

Thamel included Lanning, Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, Penn State coach James Franklin, Florida State coach Mike Norvell and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman on his short list. And national radio host Colin Cowherd also said Swinney and DeBoer were “two names I’m hearing for Bama.”

As one of the top programs in the sport, Alabama can naturally cast a wide net and target high-profile sitting coaches. The Crimson Tide went 12-2 in 2023, made the College Football Playoff after beating Georgia in the SEC championship game and lost to Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Swinney, who just completed his 15th season as Clemson’s full-time coach, has deep ties to the state and the program. He’s a Pelham, Alabama native, and lettered three years at Alabama as a wide receiver (1990-92) for legendary coach Gene Stallings.

He also coached there as a graduate assistant, wide receivers coach and tight ends coach from 1993-2000 before arriving at Clemson in 2003 as receivers coach. He’s been with the Tigers ever since, winning national championships in 2016 and 2018 and becoming the winningest coach in program history.

Swinney is in the second season of a 10-year, $115 million contract he signed in September 2022 that keeps him under contract through 2031. His total salary for 2023 was $10.75 million, the second highest in the country behind Saban ($11.1 million), according to a USA TODAY Sports database.

Swinney, 54, had a few viral clashes with fans during Clemson’s 2023 season, at one point insinuating the Tigers losing a few games might help “lighten the bandwagon.” He also had a viral rant on his radio show in response to a fan, identified as Tyler from Spartanburg, questioning his credentials and high salary.

“I work for the board of trustees, the president and the AD,” Swinney said Oct 30 as part of a rant that made national waves. “And if they’re tired of me leading this program, all they gotta do is let me know. I’ll go somewhere else where there is an appreciation.”

Swinney was floated as a candidate for the Texas A&M job that ultimately went to Mike Elko late last year, with national experts citing those interactions with the Clemson fanbase as a potential reason for Swinney to consider another school.

Through a team spokesperson, The State requested comment from Swinney on the Alabama job opening Wednesday afternoon.

Swinney has addressed rumors about taking the Alabama job after Saban retires a few times in the past, most recently telling ESPN in 2019 that he doesn’t “pay any attention” to such notions.

“People always like to say that one plus one equals two and it’s a simple thing,” he said atthe time, adding: “I was at Alabama for 13 years. I love Alabama and always will. That won’t change. But I’m going on my 17th year at Clemson, my 11th as head coach. I love where I am, love what I do.”

Swinney also addressed the possibility in a 2017 ESPN podcast interview and said he was most of all “humbled” by suggestions or calls that he take over at Alabama, given the program’s stature.

“I’ve always said ‘you never say never,’ because you have no idea what the dynamics are going to be,” Swinney said on that podcast. “Ten years from now, Alabama may call me and want me to come to Alabama, and the Clemson people may hate me at that point. I don’t know. I may have a terrible president or a terrible AD.”

“There’s dynamics that can change. I’m always just focused on being great where I’m at and blooming where I’m planted.”

Dabo contract Alabama clause

Swinney made news in 2019 when it was revealed his contract extension at that time included an “Alabama clause” that made his buyout higher if he left to coach that school as opposed to any other program.

That clause was maintained in his 2022 contract extension and outlines how Swinney’s annual employee buyout if he leaves to coach Alabama is 1.5 times higher annually than it is for any other college job. According to his contract, “Should Employee terminate early for the purpose of accepting employment in another position with duties of or substantially similar to a collegiate head coach,” Swinney and/or his next school would owe Clemson:

• 2024: $7.5 million (Alabama); $5 million (other)

• 2025: $6 million (Alabama); $4 million (other)

• 2026: $4.5 million (Alabama); $3 million (other)

• 2027: $4.5 million (Alabama); $3 million (other)

• 2028: $3 million (Alabama); $2 million (other)

• 2029: $3 million (Alabama); $2 million (other)

• 2030: $1.5 million (Alabama); $1 million (other)

• 2031: N/A (Alabama); N/A (other)

The contract also states that there’s “no amount owed” if Swinney accepts an NFL head coach position and that “Employee shall notify Director of Athletics prior to discussions by Employee or his agents for other employment.”

Clemson athletic director Graham Neff said in September 2022 he saw that heightened buyout specific to Alabama, and Swinney’s high buyout in general, as a sign of his “commitment to Clemson.”

“If you were to look at the market for the buyouts, Coach’s buyout to Clemson even before any of the additive for Alabama specifically is the highest (number) of his market, the top 10 markets.” Neff said. “That commitment that he has to Clemson sets the market ... that’s how I see those buyout dollars, because there’s a lot of (buyouts) around the country and the market that aren’t a whole lot, if anything.”

“So even those dollars there from Coach are emblematic of his commitment to Clemson.”

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