Lane Kiffin has been soaking up the sun and the sea ahead of the 2025 college football season, and he just reeled in a notable achievement—literally. Kiffin, known as much for his coaching prowess as his colorful personality, took some well-deserved downtime to go fishing off the coast of Florida. On Tuesday, he snagged a massive catch: a 62.5-inch trumpetfish, which he’s claiming as a Florida record for the species. With a playful nod to the fish’s name, Kiffin tagged former President Donald Trump in his post on X, humorously dubbing it the “Florida Record Trumpet Fish.”
The response from fans and followers was as lively as you’d expect, with congratulations pouring in and plenty of quips about the fish’s namesake. Some couldn’t resist joking about potential political connections, with comments like “A Trump fish record in the Gulf of America. Talk about some QAnon stuff man. Kiffin’s in control.” Others kept it lighthearted with phrases like “Wow! That’s awesome Coach!” and “Tagging Donald Trump on your fish pic goes so hard.”
But back on the gridiron, it’s been a rollercoaster for Kiffin and his Ole Miss Rebels. The 2024 season started strong, boasting a 4-0 start, but the journey hit some bumps with a surprising defeat by SEC rival Kentucky at home and a nail-biting overtime loss to LSU, putting the Rebels at 5-2. Despite these setbacks, the team showed resilience, staying in the SEC title race through mid-November, highlighted by a stunning victory over Georgia. However, hopes for the College Football Playoff were dashed after a tough loss to Florida later in the season.
For Kiffin and the Rebels, the pressure is palpable. Ole Miss fans always have high hopes, and repeating last year’s ups and downs won’t cut it if the aim is the SEC title game—with dreams of the College Football Playoff not far behind. As Kiffin reels in another season, his focus will surely be on mimicking the success of his fishing ventures on the football field.
