President Donald Trump endorsed former Auburn Football coach Tommy Tuberville over his former attorney general, Jeff Sessions, in a tight Alabama Senate primary runoff this month.

The president cited Tuberville’s football prowess in his backing Tuesday over Sessions, who served in the Senate for 20 years between 1997 and 2017 before Trump’s administration.

“Tommy was a terrific head football coach at Auburn University. He is a REAL LEADER who will never let MAGA/KAG, or our Country, down! Tommy will protect your Second Amendment,” Trump tweeted.

“He will be a great Senator for the people of Alabama. Coach Tommy Tuberville, a winner, has my Complete and Total Endorsement. I love Alabama.

The endorsement is expected to be a blow to Sessions as the two candidates have each raced to pitch themselves as most aligned with the president.

Trump fired Sessions in November of 2018 after relentlessly criticizing him as attorney general for recusing himself in the Justice Department’s Russia investigation.

Tuberville, on the other hand, has never served in public office but boasts a 159–99 record as a college head coach.