Until Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney finally makes the jump to the NFL, his name is likely to be mentioned every time a new NFL head coaching position opens up. This is especially true when that position involves coaching the quarterback with whom he won a national championship and once compared to Michael Jordan. After the Houston Texans (0-4) fired their general manager and head coach Bill O'Brien, folks were quick to connect Swinney with the vacancy in Houston, where QB Deshaun Watson could use some help.
However, Swinney doesn't seem interested in the gig, nor does he have much interest in discussing the topic at all.
Toward the end of his conference call with reporters on Tuesday, a South Carolina sports talk radio host, Phil Kornblut, asked Swinney if he had personally heard from Watson about possibly throwing his name in the ring for the Texans job. Swinney was quick to shoot down the inquiry:
“I have not heard from Deshaun and that is not even anything that I want to even have to think about,” Swinney cracked, via Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle. “You would be the one to ask that question out of all the questions. You don’t want to ask anything about Miami? Next question.”
Young noted that Swinney has a close relationship with Texans vice president of football operations Jack Easterby.
Swinney, who has won two national titles with the Tigers, is currently the highest-paid coach in college football at $9.3 million per year.
Watson — the recent recipient of a four-year, $160 million contract — led Clemson to consecutive appearances in the BCS National Championship Game, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 College Football Playoff.
One way or another, Watson could use some help. O'Brien inexplicably traded Watson's top target, All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, to the Arizona Cardinals last offseason for veteran running back David Johnson. Through four weeks in 2020, Hopkins leads the NFL in receptions (39) and ranks fourth in receiving yards (397).
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