Dabo Swinney jokes Graham Neff could fire him after Duke loss: 'Can't say I blame him'

Clemson lost to Duke at home for the first time since 1980 on Saturday. The Tigers fell 46-45 after the Blue Devils converted a successful two-point attempt in the final minute of regulation to take the lead.

The loss drops Clemson to 3-5 on the season, and are falling dangerously close to losing out on bowl eligibility. He compared 2025 to the 2010 season in which the Tigers finished 6-7, revealing that he believed at one point he was going to lose his job that season. In doing so, the Clemson head coach joked that he may be fired after Week 10’s heartbreaking loss.

“Lost at home here to South Carolina (in 2010) — thought I was getting fired right here in this room,” Swinney revealed during the Duke postgame press conference. “… You know, I may get fired today, (athletic director) Graham (Neff) is sitting in the back, back there. Can’t say I blame him.”

There’s been much speculation over what the future looks like for Swinney as head coach of the Clemson Tigers. It’s a position he’s held since 2009 and has brought the Tigers’ program two national championships.

Still, Swinney sees the 2010 season as the rock bottom for what he’s accomplished as head coach of Clemson. Record-wise, it is the worst record the Tigers have produced under his guidance. Just two years into his tenure, however, Swinney felt like it was all over for him in Death Valley before the best part ever really began.

“My wife’s waiting on me, crying. I walk into Terry Don (Phillips) office, and I literally thought I was getting fired,” Swinney said. “And Terry Don Phillips hugged me, and he said, ‘I believe in you more now than I ever did. And we’re gonna, we’re gonna get this thing fixed, and you just keep being who you are.’

“That was a really low, low walking off the field that day. So I would say 2010 and then obviously, this season, incredibly disappointing. Season’s not over, we’re fighting the battle and (lets) see if we can finish, somehow, some way, on a positive note.”

Swinney will look to turn the Tigers’ season around beginning next week against Florida State. He’ll look to guide Clemson to its 21st-straight bowl appearance this season — but will have to win at least three of the final four games left on its schedule to qualify.

Clemson eventually made the postseason in 2010 and went on to have 12-straight 10-plus win seasons. Only time will tell if history can repeat itself in Death Valley.