Former NFL All-Pro running back joins President Trump for Georgia midterms rally
- Todd Gurley, the former Georgia/NFL star, hitched a ride on Air Force One for Trump's third Georgia rally this year — trading NFL private jets for government-issued ones.
- Gurley joins a growing list of Georgia football royalty cozying up to Trump, including QB Gunner Stockton and failed Senate candidate Herschel Walker (now Bahamas ambassador).
- Rally aims to gin up GOP base for Senate candidate Mike Collins and guv hopeful Rick Jackson ahead of Nov. 3 — because nothing says 'economic populism' like a multimillionaire ex-athlete.
- Clay Travis cheers the move, claiming athletes are 'over the anti-Trump bulls***' — which is easy to say when you're not the one catching flak on social media.
- Trump's Georgia obsession continues, but with the state's purple tint, he might need more than a few autographed footballs to tilt the midterms.
Brief Summary
Former Georgia Bulldogs and NFL All-Pro running back Todd Gurley decided to swap his retired jersey for a political endorsement, boarding Air Force One with President Trump for a midterm rally in Dalton, Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution snapped the photo op as they landed in Marietta, proving that Trump's orbit is now a landing zone for SEC legends who once terrorized defenses instead of Twitter timelines. Gurley's college stats (3,285 yards, 36 TDs) are impressive, but his real hustle now appears to be scoring political points with a president who loves a good celebrity accessory. He joins a bizarre fraternity of Georgia football stars in Trump's circle — Gunner Stockton got a shoutout in February, and Herschel Walker got an ambassadorship after losing a Senate race — because apparently, the way to a presidential appointment is through a Heisman-worthy highlight reel. The rally is Trump's third Georgia visit this year, aimed at boosting GOP candidates Mike Collins and Rick Jackson, though it's unclear if Gurley's presence will distract from the fact that the state's politics are as tangled as a linebacker's shoelaces. Still, per Clay Travis, athletes are finally 'over the anti-Trump bulls***' — which is rich, since Gurley's bank account is likely over the bulls*** of playing in the XFL.
Why This Matters
For the average reader, this isn't just a sports story — it's a snapshot of how celebrity culture and political campaigning have fused into a single, bleacher-clearing brawl. Gurley's appearance is a calculated signal that Trump's camp wants to tap into the SEC's rabid fanbase, treating football stardom as a proxy for voter trust. It's a reminder that your favorite athlete's jersey might be retired, but their political leanings are very much on the field, possibly more influential than their stats ever were. The real question isn't whether Gurley can rally a crowd (he once did it at Sanford Stadium), but whether his presence moves the needle beyond a few extra MAGA hats in Dalton. The broader takeaway: if you're an ex-athlete looking for a post-retirement gig, apparently the options are broadcasting booths, coaching clinics, or flying on Trump's plane to stoke base turnout — a career path that says more about our polarized era than any political ad. For voters, it's a cue to separate the spectacle from the substance, especially when the spectacle involves a guy who made millions dodging tackles siding with a political team that's increasingly dodging moderates.