Dabo Swinney remembers call with Nick Saban after Alabama opening

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney like many others was linked to the Alabama head coaching job when Nick Saban announced his retirement back in 2024.

Even before Saban stepped down, Swinney was a common name brought up when discussing successors in Tuscaloosa as he was once an Alabama graduate playing three years under Gene Stallings. He would also be a part of the 1992 national championship team where the Crimson Tide went a perfect 13-0.

But during the 48 hour dash of a search athletic director Greg Byrne went on to find Alabama’s next head coach, Swinney recalled a conversation he had with Saban around the period of time during an interview with ESPN’s Chris Low.

However, Swinney had made it clear that Clemson was the place for him.

“Nick called me the next morning early, and we had a good conversation about a lot of things, but I’m where I’m supposed to be and that’s the main thing,” Swinney said. “I mean, listen, I knew that’s a question that would always be there. And again, I think they hired a great coach, and man, I love Alabama and always have, always will, and will always pull for Alabama, except for when we play. But after 23 years, this is home.”

Now one year into the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama, the Crimson Tide are looking to bounce back from missing the playoffs and Swinney and Clemson are eyeing a push for another national title.