Joe McGuire couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at his Ohio State teammates ahead of meeting US President Donald Trump.
‘It was a tremendous honour, most of the guys on the team are Trump fans which I joke to them about,’ Joe told News Corp.
‘I give it to them a bit in the locker room, saying how are those tariffs going for you.’
The son of AFL great Eddie McGuire delivered his cheeky message as he joined his Buckeyes teammates at the White House to celebrate their national championship win.
Joe now holds a bragging right over his famous father, having stepped into the Oval Office – something Eddie has never done.
Joe and his teammates not only met President Trump, they were also presented with commemorative medals for their championship triumph.
Joe McGuire, pictured fourth from left, was part of the Ohio State side that got to meet POTUS Donald Trump at the White House
Eddie McGuire looked every inch the proud father during a recent trip to the US to visit his budding NFL star son Joe. Pictured with his wife Carla and son Joe
Joe McGuire, second from right, with his teammates and their national championship rings
The 24-year-old Aussie punter was part of the Ohio State Buckeyes side that defeated Notre Dame 34-23 to claim the college football national title.
Joe’s journey to American football began during the Covid pandemic after a friend suggested he try Prokick Australia.
‘One of my friends sort of came up to me in Covid and said you’ve got a decent leg, why don’t you try this thing called Prokick Australia,’ Joe said.
From there, he forced his way into one of the biggest college football programs in the United States.
He joined fellow Aussie Nick McLarty on the Buckeyes roster, giving the team a uniquely Australian flavour.
Ohio State secured the national title in front of 77,660 fans at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Joe was called into action late in the fourth quarter, punting the ball 51 yards to the Notre Dame 10-yard line.
He also calmly held the ball for a crucial field goal that helped secure Ohio State’s victory.
Joe McGuire poses with the national college championship trophy and the ring he earned for being part of their success
Despite playing only a small part on the field, McGuire proudly collected his championship ring.
Growing up in Melbourne, Joe played Aussie Rules and cricket, with many assuming he would follow in his father’s AFL footsteps.
However, Joe chose a different path, determined to forge his own identity away from Eddie’s considerable shadow.
‘What the world is like at the moment, anything I did in Melbourne there are going to be some people who say you only did that because of your dad,’ he said.
‘This is just one thing that it just does not matter who your dad is or whatever. You have to put in the work and you have to be good enough.’
Eddie McGuire could not hide his pride in his son’s achievements abroad.
‘It was very impressive to watch a young kid have a go at this outlandish sort of dream,’ Eddie said.
‘He literally started from scratch, and now he’s playing in front of 100,000 every week.’
Eddie celebrates with his family in the United States as Joe’s team won the national title
In January 2025, Eddie visited Joe at Ohio State, posing proudly with his son on the football field.
Dressed in a black puffer jacket and jeans, Eddie stood alongside Joe, who wore his red number 42 jersey.
The father-son moment captured their close bond and Joe’s bright future ahead.
Now in his second year at Ohio State, Joe’s sights are firmly set on reaching the NFL.
‘It’s definitely the ultimate goal,’ he said.
‘I’ve definitely got a long way to go before I look at that. I’ve got another three years here at college before I’d look at that.’
Joe’s college career mirrors that of other Australians who made the transition to American football through Prokick Australia.
In the national title game, Joe’s mate James Rendell punted for Notre Dame, showcasing Australia’s growing impact on US college football.
Both McGuire and Rendell hope to continue their journeys into the NFL once their college days are done.
The game was watched by millions worldwide, with NBA superstar LeBron James among the celebrities on the sidelines.
