Former Las Vegas Raiders and Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden has given Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted his full support during a surprise visit at a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Vandalia, Ohio.
Gruden, 63, a native of Sandusky, Ohio, who went to college at the University of Dayton, took the stage and began endorsing his former college football teammate.
“I want to thank everybody for growing up. Thank you guys, for being here. I love you guys,” Gruden said. “… Jon Husted is a lot more than my friend. He was a great player. He intercepted 17 passes on the gridiron.
“I know why he was a great player. It was because of his work ethic, and his commitment, and his native Dayton mental toughness. He will never quit on you or anybody. Let’s hear it for Husted.”
After the crowd gave Gruden a large round of applause, he had one last thing to tell them.
“Before you know it. This election is over, yes? It’s over,” Gruden said. “But what we gotta do is we gotta do our part. Early voting starts Tuesday. Can we be there or not?”
Gruden went on to tell the crowd to get their friends out and go vote.
“Husted back in action. Lets go. Thank you!” Gruden said.
In the past, Gruden has shown his support for President Trump, as the two were seen playing golf together in 2025, when Trump called him “A really nice guy.”
While Gruden isn’t known for being involved in politics, he was known for being the head coach of the Raiders.
His first stint happened between 1998-2001 and came to an end after he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2002, Gruden’s Buccaneers met the Raiders in Super Bowl 37 and defeated them 48-21.
In 2008, Gruden was locked to remain with the Buccaneers until 2011, when he signed a three-year extension after starting the season with a 9-3 record. Tampa Bay ended up collapsing in the second half of the season in an ironic twist of fate, as they dropped their final game of the season to the Raiders.
Gruden went on to have a career as a broadcaster, serving as a color commentator on Monday Night Football.
In 2018, he came back to coaching after agreeing to join forces with the Raiders again.
Gruden’s second stint finished with a 22-31 record, and he would eventually resign from the job after an email scandal leaked of him using racist language, mocking an openly gay NFL player, and being unsupportive of the emergence of women in the NFL as officials.
