Dabo Swinney Dismisses Texans Coaching Question, But the Door Is Open a Sliver

At the 30-minute mark of Dabo Swinney's press conference yesterday, college football recruiting analyst Phil Kornblut asked the Clemson coach if he's heard from his former QB, Deshaun Watson, since Bill O'Brien was fired by the Texans and if he's ready for his name to come up in rumors.

"I have not heard from Deshaun," Swinney answered, joking that Kornblut would be the one to ask him about that. "That is not even anything that I even want to have to even think about."

Swinney just wanted to talk about Miami.

While this reads as a dismissal, Swinney has his rival Nick Saban to thank for the fact that we're never going to take any of these coaches at their word. Beyond that, he wasn't asked if he'd be interested. He was asked about his name coming up in rumors.

Maybe Swinney, 50, winds up being the college football version of Coach K and never indulges overtures from the pros. Nonetheless, as an ultra competitive person, he must at some level wonder if he could succeed in the NFL.

The timing of Swinney going to the NFL next season, whether to reunite with Deshaun Watson or to seize another potential opportunity, in my opinion, would be a worthwhile bet. He is losing Trevor Lawrence. He's already won two national championships at Clemson, and they are tied with Alabama at +250 for the best odds to win it all this season.

Beyond that, leaving for the NFL would be a house money bet for Swinney. If he succeeds, then he joins a rare group of coaches like Jimmy Johnson and Pete Carroll, who have thrived at both levels. If he fails, he would have his pick of schools upon his return to the college level. He'd probably be just like Nick Saban and forever compete for national titles.