Jordan Rodgers defends Dabo Swinney amid slow start: 'Clemson fans are spoiled'

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers came into the 2025 season with a ton of hype. They certainly didn’t expect a 1-2 start to the season.

That’s led to a ton of backlash pertaining towards the program’s leader in Swinney. On Tuesday, the Clemson head coach delivered a strong message to his critics, and the fans who are thinking his time with the Tigers should be up.

“I thrive in the battle, honestly. I have my whole life,” Swinney said. “Perspective is important. If they want me gone, they can send me on my way. If they’re tired of winning, they can send me on my way. I won’t stop. I’m 55. I’ll go somewhere else and win. I ain’t going to the beach.

“We’ve won this league eight of the last 10 years. Is that good? I’ve got a long memory in case y’all don’t know. This is a program that’s built to last. If you don’t believe in us after we lost just two games, you weren’t all in anyway. Hate to disappoint all the haters out there, but I have a long way to go, boys.”

One person who loved that response was Jordan Rodgers. The ESPN analyst joined Get Up on Wednesday, where he called Clemson fans spoiled for their vitriol towards Swinney. He thinks the Tigers will be just fine.

“I love it. Look, Clemson fans are spoiled,” Rodgers stated. “He’s had one nine-win season since 2011 — everything else has been 10 or more wins, four national championship appearances, two national championship victories. Look, I came from Vanderbilt. We won nine games in 2012, and we hadn’t done that in 97 years. We’d be pretty dang happy with what Dabo has done at Clemson.

“Clemson fans need to pump the brakes and realize he’s sustained success at a higher level than anybody except for Nick Saban. It is truly remarkable what Dabo has accomplished. And now you have one off year where you don’t win 10 games and it’s panic. You have a slow start. But everything Clemson wants to achieve this year is still in front of them.

“I know they’re 1-2, I know it hasn’t looked good, but they can still get to an ACC Championship. They can still get to a College Football Playoff. Pump the brakes on Dabo. Clemson fans — you’re a little spoiled right now.”

Rodgers certainly has a point. Swinney has looked down and out in the past, only to bring Clemson to glory. Count the Tigers out at your own risk, but the smart money is on a resurgence moving forward.