Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden endorsed Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted during a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Vandalia, Ohio. Gruden, 63, originally from Sandusky, Ohio, took the stage to support his former college football teammate.
Gruden stated, "I want to thank everybody for growing up. Thank you guys, for being here. I love you guys. 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 receiving applause from the crowd, Gruden emphasized the importance of voting, saying, "Before you know it. This election is over, yes? It’s over. But what we gotta do is we gotta do our part. Early voting starts Tuesday. Can we be there or not?" He encouraged attendees to mobilize their friends to vote, concluding with, "Husted back in action. Let's go. Thank you!"
Gruden has previously expressed support for President Trump, with the two having been seen together on the golf course in 2025. Although not typically involved in politics, Gruden is known for his coaching career, which includes a Super Bowl victory with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Raiders in 2003. He also had a stint as a broadcaster before returning to coaching with the Raiders in 2018, which ended amid controversy related to leaked emails containing offensive language.