Former Georgia Bulldogs and National Football League star Todd Gurley joined President Donald Trump at a Dalton campaign rally Oct. 16, adding a familiar sports figure to Republicans’ closing push in two competitive statewide races.
Gurley traveled aboard Air Force One from Joint Base Andrews, then stepped off with Trump at Dobbins Air Reserve Base before continuing to Dalton Municipal Airport. A White House pool report listed him among the presidential travelers.
Near the end of Trump’s speech, the president invited Gurley onstage and praised his football career. Gurley opened with “Go Dawgs,” thanked Trump for the Air Force One trip and White House welcome, and thanked Georgia for supporting him. His brief remarks did not mention Senate nominee Mike Collins or gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson by name.
Gurley rushed for 3,285 yards and 36 touchdowns at Georgia from 2012 through 2014. The Rams selected him 10th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. He later earned three Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors and the NFL’s 2017 Offensive Player of the Year award.
The Dalton rally promoted Collins and Jackson against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Trump urged supporters to act as though he were on the ballot. Gov. Brian Kemp did not attend because of a family obligation, The Associated Press reported.
Gurley is not the first Bulldogs figure to appear with Trump this election cycle. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton and former star Herschel Walker joined the president at a February event in Rome.
