Clemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs
SPILLER BECOMES ONE OF 10 FULL-TIME ASSISTANT COACHES
CLEMSON, S.C. — Head Coach Dabo Swinney formally announced today that C.J. Spiller has been named as Clemson’s running backs coach. The hire was officially approved by the Clemson University Board of Trustees Compensation Committee on Thursday.
He played eight NFL seasons with the Bills, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2012. He and college teammate Jacoby Ford are the only Clemson products to record multiple rushing touchdowns, multiple receiving touchdowns and multiple kick return touchdowns during an NFL career. Clemson is represented well in the world’s biggest game, as four former Tigers will play in Super Bowl LV. Punter Bradley Pinion will represent Clemson for the Buccaneers, while former cornerback Bashaud Breeland, linebacker Dorian O’Daniel and wide receiver Sammy Watkins will represent the Tigers on the Chiefs’ sideline. While historically Clemson University may be better known for a top football program, the Clemson Tigers basketball team is also starting to become synonymous with a top basketball program. This developing outlook can be contributed, in part, to the help of their head coach, Brad Brownell. The 2018 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season.The Tigers played their home games at Memorial Stadium, also known as 'Death Valley,' and competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Spiller assumes leadership of Clemson’s running backs, a role previously held by Tony Elliott, who now assumes the title of Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach.
“[Spiller] is one of the greatest ambassadors that we’ve had for our program for a long time and now for him to be able to come back and be able to sow seeds into these young men and teach all the things he’s learned throughout his career, there’s not a guy on this staff that’s more committed and more ALL IN for Clemson than C.J. Spiller, that’s for sure,” Swinney said. “To have C.J. out on the road recruiting and have him leading these young men day in and day out is something I’m really, really excited about, and I can’t wait to see him take the field this spring leading that group.”
Spiller joins Clemson’s staff on a full-time basis after joining the program as an unpaid coaching intern in 2020 while pursuing his Master’s degree in athletic leadership. Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Spiller was one of the most decorated players in Clemson history, earning selection last month for induction in the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
“I’m definitely excited for this job and express my gratitude to Coach Swinney, Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich and the Board of Trustees, and I thank them for trusting me with the opportunity to have an impact on these young men’s lives and represent our university in a first-class manner,” Spiller said. “It doesn’t happen very often that you’re able to coach at your alma mater, especially in your first gig, and for me to have that opportunity, I don’t take it lightly. I’m just ecstatic about getting started.”
Spiller’s historic Clemson playing career covered 2006-09, including a senior campaign in which won ACC Player of the Year and was a unanimous first-team All-American en route to finishing sixth in Heisman Trophy voting. That year, he joined Reggie Bush as the only players in college football history with 3,000 rushing yards, 1,500 yards in kickoff returns, 1,000 receiving yards and 500 yards in punt returns. He becomes the fourth Clemson graduate among the Tigers’ 10 full-time assistant coaches, joining Brandon Streeter (1999), Tony Elliott (2002) and Tyler Grisham (2009).
Following the collegiate career for which his No. 28 was retired at Clemson, Spiller was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played eight NFL seasons with the Bills, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2012. He and college teammate Jacoby Ford remain the only Clemson products ever to record multiple rushing touchdowns, multiple receiving touchdowns and multiple kick return touchdowns during an NFL career.
Spiller, 33, is a 2009 graduate of Clemson, earning his undergraduate degree in sociology. He is married to his wife, Daysha, and has one daughter, Shania.
Spiller’s hire as one of Clemson’s 10 full-time assistant coaches was among several staff changes for the 2021 football season finalized on Thursday, as Clemson’s recent success resulted in six support staff members departing for full-time coaching positions following the 2020 season. A full list of additional changes for Clemson’s football staff is included below.
HIRES
- C.J. Spiller — Running Backs Coach
- Daniel Boyd — Defensive Player Development
- Kaleb Nobles — Offensive Player Development
- Cole Stoudt — Offensive Player Development
- Andrew Zow — Offensive Analyst
GRADUATE ASSISTANT ADDITIONS
- Tyrone Crowder — Offensive Graduate Assistant
- Elijah Turner — Defensive Graduate Assistant
TITLE CHANGES
- Tony Elliott — Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach
- Mickey Conn — Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties Coach
- Danny Pearman — Director of Football Scouting
- Kyle Richardson — Director of High School Relations and Special Assistant to the Offense
- Thad Turnipseed — Director of Player Development, Freshman Transition and External Affairs
- Bill Spiers — Director of Special Teams
- Zach Fulmer — Assistant Director of Football Scouting/Recruiting Assistant
FULL COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH DABO SWINNEY
“I’m super excited about C.J. moving on the field and being our running backs coach. He’s one of the greatest ambassadors that we’ve had for our program for a long time and now for him to be able to come back and be able to sow seeds into these young men and teach all the things he’s learned throughout his career, there’s not a guy on this staff that’s more committed and more ALL IN for Clemson than C.J. Spiller, that’s for sure.
“This is a really cool moment for me. It’s hard for me to believe — I’ve known C.J. now since 2005 and really coming full circle with him coming here as a player and helping build the foundation of this program we enjoy today. Watching him all through his pro career and then him coming back and transitioning this past year and wanting to spend the year learning coaching, it was the right opportunity and the right time. Man, I’m just really, really, excited, and Tony [Elliott] is excited as well. Tony has loved coaching running backs, but it was an easy transition for him since he can coach anything in the room. A great fit for us.
“To have C.J. out on the road recruiting and have him leading these young men day in and day out is something I’m really, really excited about, and I can’t wait to see him take the field this spring leading that group.”
Clemson is guaranteed to have a Super Bowl Champion from the 2020 football season.
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs punched their tickets to Super Bowl LV in Tampa. The Bucs took down the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, while the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC Championship to advance the Super Bowl for a second straight year with a victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Clemson is represented well in the world’s biggest game, as four former Tigers will play in Super Bowl LV. Punter Bradley Pinion will represent Clemson for the Buccaneers, while former cornerback Bashaud Breeland, linebacker Dorian O’Daniel and wide receiver Sammy Watkins will represent the Tigers on the Chiefs’ sideline.
Of course, this will be the second straight year Breeland, O’Daniel and Watkins will be in the Super Bowl. They, of course, helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV over San Francisco last year.
This will be the first Super Bowl appearance for Pinion.
If the Chiefs win the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, it will mark the first time in 22 seasons a former Clemson player has won back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Former defensive tackle Trevor Pryce won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII. He is also the last Tiger to win multiple Super Bowl titles.
The late Bennie Cunningham (Pittsburgh Steelers), Terrence Flagler (San Francisco 49ers) and Pryce are the only former Tigers to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Flagler won two Super Bowls (XXIII and XXIV) as a member of the 49ers, while Cunningham helped the Steelers win Super Bowls XIII and XIV.
Over the years, 30 former Clemson Tigers have been on at least one Super Bowl Championship Team.
There was a stretch for six consecutive seasons from 1984-’89 when at least one former Tiger earned a Super Bowl ring. There was also a stretch from 1996-2000 that at least one Tiger won a Super Bowl every year.
The 1987 Washington Redskins had the most Clemson players on one team to earn a Super Bowl ring. Kicker Obed Ariri, center Jeff Bostic, defensive Dan Benish and tight end K.D. Dunn helped the Redskins beat John Elway and Denver, 42-10, in Super Bowl XXII that afternoon in San Diego.
After Washington’s four, the 1981 San Francisco 49er, 1986 New York Giants and 2019 Kansas City Chiefs had three Clemson players on their Super Bowl winning teams. Wide receiver Dwight Clark, defensive tackle Archie Reese and defensive tackle Jim Stuckey were on the 1981 49ers, who won Super Bowl XVI. Cornerback Ty Davis, linebacker Andy Headen and safety Terry Kinard played for the Giants 1986 team that won Super Bowl XXI.
The first Clemson player to ever win a Super Bowl was running back Bill Mathis in Super Bowl III. He was a part of Joe Namath’s guarantee to beat the NFL’s Baltimore Colts. That’s when the New York Jets were still a part of the American Football League and the NFL-AFL merger had not been completed. The Jets won the game, 16-7.
Mathis passed away this past October. He was 81-years old.
Charlie Waters, who played for the Dallas Cowboys, was the first Clemson player to win multiple Super Bowls. He was a safety for the Cowboys when they beat Miami, 24-3, in Super Bowl V and Denver, 27-10, in Super Bowl XII.
Cunningham helped the Pittsburgh Steelers beat Dallas, 35-31, in Super Bowl XIII and then the Rams, 31-19, in Super Bowl XIV.
Jeff Bostic owns the most Super Bowl rings by a former Clemson player. Bostic helped the Redskins win Super Bowl XVII over Miami, 27-17, Super Bowl XXII over Denver and Super Bowl XXVI, 37-24, over Buffalo.
William Perry was the first former Tiger to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. He was a part of the Tigers’ 1981 National Championship Team and then, as a rookie, he helped the Chicago Bears beat the New England Patriots, 46-10, in Super Bowl XX.
Perry, who played defensive tackle, even ran the ball in from a yard out to become, not only the first Clemson player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl, but he is the only former Tiger to score one. He was also a freshman on Clemson’s 1981 team that won it all. He was the first player in the Super Bowl era to win a national championship as a true freshman in college and a Super Bowl in his rookie season.
Only six former Clemson players in history have won a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. Perry (Chicago, Super Bowl XX), Andy Headen (Giants, Super Bowl XXI), Terry Kinard (Giants, Super Bowl XXI), Dan Benish (Washington, Super Bowl XXII) and K.D. Dunn (Washington, Super Bowl XXII). They were all members of Clemson’s 1981 National Championship Team.
O’Daniel joined this exclusive group last year. He was a part of the Tigers’ 2016 National Championship team. The linebacker was the first player from Clemson’s most recent national championship teams to win a Super Bowl.
Super Bowl Champion Tigers
Super Bowl III
RB Bill Mathis, RB, JetsSuper Bowl VI
Charlie Waters, S, CowboysSuper Bowl IX
John McMakin, TE, SteelersSuper Bowl XII
Charlie Waters, S, CowboysSuper Bowl XIII
Bennie Cunningham, TE, SteelersClemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs Score
Super Bowl XIV
Bennie Cunningham, TE, SteelersSuper Bowl XVI
Dwight Clark, WR, 49ersArchie Reese, DT, 49ersJim Stuckey, DT, 49ersSuper Bowl XVII
Jeff Bostic, C, RedskinsSuper Bowl XXIX
Dwight Clark, WR, 49ersJim Stuckey, DT, 49ersSuper Bowl XX
William Perry, DT, BearsSteve Fuller, QB, BearsSuper Bowl XXI
Ty Davis, CB, GiantsAndy Headen, LB, GiantsTerry Kindard, S, GiantsSuper Bowl XXII
Obed Ariri, K, RedskinsDan Benish, DT, RedskinsJeff Bostic, C, RedskinsD. Dunn, TE, RedskinsSuper Bowl XXIII
Terrance Flagler, RB, 49ersSuper Bowl XXIV
Terrance Flagler, RB, 49ersSuper Bowl XXVI
Jeff Bostic, C, RedskinsSuper Bowl XXXI
Wayne Simmons, LB, PackersSuper Bowl XXXII
Trevor Pryce, DT, BroncosSuper Bowl XXXIII
Trevor Pryce, DT, BroncosSuper Bowl XXXIV
Tony Horne, WR, RamsDexter McCleon, CB, RamsSuper Bowl XXXV
James Trapp, DB, RavensSuper Bowl XL
Chris Gardocki, P, SteelersSuper Bowl XLIII
Nick Eason, DT, SteelersSuper Bowl XLIV
Anthony Waters, LB, SaintsSuper Bowl XLVIII
Bryon Maxwell, CB, SeahawksClemson Tigers On Kansas City Chiefs Game Time
Super Bowl LIII
Dwayne Allen, TE, PatriotsSuper Bowl LIV
Bashaud Breeland, CB, ChiefsDorian O’Daniel, LB, ChiefsSammy Watkins, WR, Chiefs