Dabo Swinney, Bill Belichick share previous knowledge of each other

For the first time ever this college football season, we’ll get to see Bill Belichick on the sidelines as the legendary NFL coach has joined the college ranks at North Carolina. That will bring with it some interesting matches against big-name coaches he’s yet to face in his career, such as Dabo Swinney.

The Tar Heels will take on Clemson in an Oct. 4 matchup, pitting the six-time Super Bowl winner against the two-time national champion. The two coaches sat down together in a recent interview with ESPN, where Swinney discussed their familiarity with each other, saying they have only met once or twice.

“I think he came to Clemson one time, so I may have met him one time over the years when I was at Alabama, because I was at Alabama for 13 years,” the Tigers coach said. “I went to Alabama when I was 18 and left when I was 31. So, you know, who gets to do that? But when you do get to do that you get to meet a lot of neat people over the time. So I met a lot of great head coaches and different heroes of mine growing up that I got to see at pro days and different things like that coming through practice.

“Specifically, I know you came to Clemson one time. But I feel like I know him just like everybody because he’s Bill Belichick. How do you not know who he is?”

Belichick coached the New England Patriots from 2000-23. He left as the NFL’s all-time leader in playoff wins with 31 and ranks third in regular season wins with 302.

Swinney explained that while the two hadn’t met face-to-face but a couple of time, he had always respected Belichick from afar like a lot of football coaches and fans. He was also in the building for Belichick’s last Super Bowl win in 2018 as he was supporting former Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen.

“Unfortunately, I was in Minnesota (in 2017),” he said. “I went to see Dwayne Allen. But I went to the one in Minnesota and it was the coldest ever. I thought I was gonna die. That was a crazy game. But the next year, I think y’all were back there in Atlanta and I got to see you guys and Dwayne Allen become a Super Bowl champion. So that was pretty cool for me.”

Belichick also offered some compliments up to Swinney, who has taken Clemson to the College Football Playoff seven times and four appearances in the title game with two wins. He saw the type of NFL talent Swinney produced for many years and knows what a quality coach he’ll be facing.

“You know, a lot of respect knowing you and your staff and of course what you’ve done at Clemson,” Belichick said to Swinney. “You had so many No. 1 draft choices, No. 2 draft choices all through the years. It’s just been a tremendous run. Success has been incredible.”