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Auburn should consider nuclear offensive coordinator candidate in offseason

By Andrew Hughes

The Auburn football program should consider the nuclear option at offensive coordinator who could be available in the offseason Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
The Auburn football program should consider the nuclear option at offensive coordinator who could be available in the offseason Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Auburn football and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery are not long for each other based on the results of the first half of the 2023 Tigers season, so in the offseason when Hugh Freeze has to find a new play-caller, AU must consider the nuclear option: Dabo Swinney.

Swinney has made a habit of saying all of the wrong things in press conferences, most recently making an ill-timed mental health joke about Clemson’s sports psychologist on October 21 following a 28-20 overtime loss. But having developed Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson into championship quarterbacks, Swinney does have plenty of value as a coach and recruiter. And not for nothing, Freeze doesn’t always knock it out of the park during press conferences either; claiming he doesn’t think about games until half an hour before the game because of recruiting being perhaps his worst gaffe.

With three losses already and matchups with Notre Dame and UNC left on the schedule — not to mention South Carolina will be hosting the Palmetto Bowl in Week 13 — Swinney could be let go by Clemson this offseason as the Tigers continue to drift into irrelevancy in the NIL era. And if Swinney can dial his personality down just enough on the Plains to not hog the spotlight and give Auburn a bad name, he’d be the shot in the arm the program needs given their recent struggles match up perfectly with Swinney’s strengths.

Auburn football could use a wide receiver whisperer like Dabo Swinney

Having sent receivers like DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant, Mike Williams, Hunter Renfrow, and Tee Higgins to the NFL and being a standout receiver in the Birmingham area in his playing days, Swinney is the kind of wideout whisperer the Tigers need to revive a position that hasn’t been the same since Seth Williams and Anthony Schwartz left for the NFL after Gus Malzahn’s final season at the helm.

While many programs may not want to bring on a controversial hot rod like Swinney, Auburn football clearly has no issues taking chances on great coaching minds with troubled pasts as the Freeze hiring exhibited.

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