Sitting side by side, Cade Klubnik didn’t hesitate when asked what Dabo Swinney meant to him over four seasons.
“My favorite coach I’ve ever had,” Klubnik said, his voice steady but reflective. “One of the biggest things I admire is consistency and being able to speak the truth.”
For Klubnik, that consistency defined his Clemson experience. He described Swinney as “the exact same person every single day,” whether after a loss or an ACC championship, a quality he said shaped how he approached the game — and life.
“I try to show up and fight and push to be the best me that I can be because I want to be the best Cade that I can be because of him,” Klubnik said. “He saw something in me when I was in Austin, Texas, and I wanted to go fulfill that.”
Klubnik said he leaves Clemson with gratitude, not regret. He spoke about growth through highs and lows, faith strengthened through leadership, and a four-year journey that exceeded expectations.
“Sad that it’s over, but glad that it happened,” he said. “It’s been even better than I could have ever imagined.”
Swinney responded with equal emotion, calling Klubnik a “warrior” and praising his toughness, intelligence and leadership.
“Man, I love this kid,” Swinney said. “He shows up and battles every single day. He’s a Top 5 winning quarterback in the history of this school. You win as a team, you lose as a team — and this kid has done a lot of winning.”
Swinney acknowledged the season didn’t end the way either envisioned, but emphasized Klubnik’s legacy beyond final outcomes: a two-time ACC champion, a captain, and a quarterback who endured adversity without wavering.
“Whoever gets a chance to coach Cade Klubnik will be better because of it,” Swinney said. “He’s been an incredible blessing to me in my life.”
As Clemson turns the page, the exchange captured something deeper than a season’s result — a relationship built on trust, consistency and shared belief.
“This guy right here,” Swinney said, gesturing toward Klubnik, “he’s special.”