ESPN’s Paul Finebaum says ‘no want wants Dabo Swinney’ as their head coach

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Do you ever listen to a person speak and wonder how they got into the position they did? That’s ESPN’s Paul Finebaum for me. Finebaum recently threw more shade at Clemson’s longtime head coach, and he continues to become more ridiculous.

Paul Finebaum once again took aim at Dabo Swinney during The Paul Finebaum Show, this time claiming the Clemson head coach wouldn’t have much of a market if he ever became available.

The comments came after a caller suggested Clemson would never move on from Swinney because of the roughly $57 million buyout in his contract.

Rather than focus on the buyout, Finebaum questioned why Swinney has received such a lucrative deal in the first place.

“First of all, these buyouts are absurd. … What program has ever tried to hire Dabo Swinney? Why do you get that type of leverage at the back end of your contract. Dabo’s never gotten an offer,” Finebaum said.

He later pointed to Alabama’s recent extension for Kalen DeBoer, arguing it was driven by the possibility another school could hire him, something he doesn’t believe applies to Swinney.

“People can get upset about [Alabama head coach Kalen] DeBoer, but the reason he got the contract [new seven-year, $87.5 million extension] is that they thought he might leave,” Finebaum said. “Nobody wants Dabo Swinney. Alabama, his alma mater, could’ve easily called him. That didn’t even enter their thought process.”

This isn’t the first time Finebaum has questioned where Swinney and Clemson are headed. Since the Tigers’ 7-6 season in 2025, he’s repeatedly cast doubt on the program, saying in May, “I don’t have any faith or belief in Dabo Swinney anymore,” before recently predicting another 8-4 finish for Clemson.

“I think he’ll have a winning season. I think another good 8-4 season for Dabo,” Finebaum said.

Finebaum also joked that the only person he knows who still believes in Swinney is frequent caller Chris from South Carolina. He later agreed with another caller who predicted LSU would “clean his clock” when Clemson opens the 2026 season in Baton Rouge.

While Finebaum continues to question Swinney, the Clemson coach’s résumé still stacks up with anyone in the sport. Swinney owns a 187-53 record, has won nine ACC championships and two national titles, and is one of only two active head coaches with multiple national championships.

Swinney enters his 19th season at Clemson this fall. He’s under contract through the 2031 season after signing a 10-year, $115 million extension in 2022.

So, one of the best coaches of all time is 1) not worth the money and 2) not desirable for literally any program in college football after nine ACC championship, two national championships and sustained recruiting success? Really Paul?

At the end of the day, while Finebaum is a big name in college football, he’s also in many ways, a joke. Sit back and hear yourself speak man… you might get embarrassed if you start to listen.

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: ESPN’s Paul Finebaum says ‘no want wants Dabo Swinney’ as their head coach

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