NFL Coaching Legend Joins Trump Rally

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden spoke at a campaign rally President Donald Trump held Saturday at Vandalia-Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio. The event backed Republican candidates in the midterms, including U.S. Sen. Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Husted introduced Gruden. The two were teammates on the University of Dayton football team in 1985. Gruden, a Sandusky native and former Dayton quarterback, has stayed in contact with Husted, who was an All-American cornerback and kick returner at Dayton and later a starter on the Flyers’ 1989 NCAA Division III national championship team.

Husted has served as an Ohio state representative, House speaker, state senator, secretary of state, lieutenant governor, and, since January 2025, U.S. senator.

“I’ll be very brief, but I want to thank everybody for showing up. I love you guys. I just came back for one reason. I’m from Ohio. My mom and dad are from Cleveland. I was born in Sandusky, and I went to the University of Dayton, and I’m d*** proud of it, man,” Gruden told the crowd.

He then turned to Husted. “Jon Husted is a lot more than my friend. He was a great player. He intercepted 17 passes on the gridiron. He was a great player. And I know why he was a great player. It was because of his work ethic and his commitment and his day-to-day mental toughness. He will never quit, ever, on you or anybody. Let’s hear it for Husted.”

The Super Bowl-winning coach pushed the crowd on turnout. “Before you know it, this election is over. Yes, it’s over. But what we got to do is we got to do our part. Early voting starts Tuesday. Can we be there or not? Let’s be there. And I know you guys got a lot more friends than I do. Get your friends, and get their friends and their friends, and let’s get Husted back in action. Let’s go!”

During his own remarks, Trump referred to Gruden, noting that Gruden had said the crowd’s energy was “rougher than a football game” and comparing the rally’s spirit to Ohio State’s game earlier that day.

Gruden coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title and later coached the Raiders before resigning in 2021.