Coach Walz Delivers a ‘Fourth Quarter’ Pep Talk at the DNC

The Democratic VP pick leaned into his high school football coaching credentials during his DNC speech, hoping to win over middle America.

Tim Walz
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination in Chicago. Matt Rourke/AP

CHICAGO — The Minnesota delegation had several false starts Wednesday night.

Some shouted Tim Walz’s name after musician John Legend performed at the Democratic National Convention, hoping their governor would be next on stage. Some stood up when Maryland Gov. Wes Moore mentioned Walz’s time in the national guard, thinking perhaps that was his moment. And some could be heard asking “who’s that?” when a former student of Walz’s appeared late Wednesday night to introduce some of the vice presidential candidate’s past football players.

But by the time Walz actually took the stage, much of the Minnesota delegation seemed prepared to run through a brick wall for him. And that was before he even started speaking.