Jon Gruden rallies Ohio voters for Senate candidate Jon Husted on Oct. 3, 2026
Former Super Bowl‑winning coach Jon Gruden appeared at a rally in Ohio on Oct. 3, 2026, to endorse Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted, urging voters to turn out for the upcoming midterm election.
Gruden, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 2003 Super Bowl victory, said he came back to Ohio because his parents are from Cleveland, he was born in Sandusky, and he attended the University of Dayton, adding, “I’m damn proud of it, man.” He praised Husted’s football credentials, noting Husted intercepted 17 passes in college and described his work ethic and “Dayton mental toughness” as reasons he “will never quit.”
During his remarks, Gruden reminded the crowd that early voting begins Tuesday, urging them to be present at the polls and saying, “Let’s get Husted back in action. Let’s go. Thank you!” The crowd responded with enthusiastic chants, reinforcing the candidate’s visibility as Husted prepares for his first election after being appointed to the seat formerly held by Vice President JD Vance.
Former President Donald Trump also addressed the rally, predicting that the midterms would “surprise pundits” and insisting that a strong Republican turnout would lead to a “big win.” He warned that Republican turnout typically falls when he is not on the ballot, but encouraged supporters to “pretend” he is running to boost voter numbers, promising “four more years” if the party succeeds.
The rally placed Husted against his opponent, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, as both campaigns vie for support ahead of the November election. Gruden’s endorsement, framed around teamwork and perseverance, aims to translate his sports credibility into political momentum for Husted.
With early voting now open and both political and sports figures rallying voters, the next development will be the official turnout numbers on Election Day, which could determine whether the Republican ticket maintains its foothold in Ohio’s Senate race.
