Former Clemson standout Will Shipley, now a Super Bowl champion, credits Dabo Swinney for his success.
During an appearance on Gramlich & Mac Lain with fellow Clemson alumni Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain, Shipley expressed high admiration for his former head coach. “Coach Swinney—who I could talk about for years—is not only an excellent football coach but an even better leader for young men,” Shipley stated. “He often says he has a PhD in guiding 18- to 22-year-olds. He helped me mature and grow, and he truly took me to where I am now.”
After an impressive three-year career at Clemson, Shipley enjoyed a memorable rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Alongside fellow Clemson alumni Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and K.J. Henry, Shipley earned his first Super Bowl ring on February 9, when the Eagles triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
Shipley was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft after a standout career at Clemson from 2021 to 2023. A native of the Charlotte area, Shipley mentioned that his parents entrusted him to Swinney, who then guided him to the Eagles organization
“He passed me over to the Eagles organization, and that’s how I view it,” Shipley said.
“Now, I’m feeling a bit more independent since it’s a business and it’s the NFL,” Shipley continued. “You have a fantastic support system, but things are definitely different. No doubt about that. I could talk for hours about Coach Swinney; he really is the best.”
Before leaving Clemson, Shipley ranked among the Top 10 in school history for total touchdowns (33), rushing touchdowns (31), 100-yard rushing games (10), all-purpose yards (4,253), and kickoff return yards (904). Notably, he is the only documented FBS player to accumulate over 4,000 all-purpose yards while also graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA in just three years.
During the NFL playoffs, leading up to Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory, Shipley had a standout performance in the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders on January 26. He registered 165 all-purpose yards, recorded two tackles, forced a fumble, and scored his first career NFL touchdown.
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