Donald Trump's New Jersey Generals Jacket Fetches Substantial Sum at Auction

A white satin jacket associated with Donald Trump's tenure as owner of the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL) recently commanded a high price at auction. Gray Flannel Auctions facilitated the sale, where the artifact brought in $18,658.68. This piece of memorabilia serves as a tangible link to the former president’s involvement in the USFL during the mid-1980s, capturing a unique moment in sports history.

The auction house, Gray Flannel Auctions, which specializes in sports heritage items, successfully brokered this transaction. The sale highlights the enduring public fascination with objects situated at the intersection of 1980s sports lore and prominent political figures. The jacket itself features embroidered lettering spelling out “Trump” alongside the Generals’ emblem, dating back to the era when the team played its home games at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Trump’s ownership of the Generals commenced following the 1983 season, after he acquired the franchise from J. Walter Duncan and Chuck Fairbanks. This acquisition marked the beginning of a period characterized by aggressive maneuvers aimed at directly challenging the National Football League (NFL). Perhaps the most high-profile move during this time was securing quarterback Doug Flutie, who signed a five-year contract rumored to be worth between $5.5 million and $7.5 million. Flutie, the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner, was officially signed on February 4, 1985. It is worth noting that under the initial ownership of Duncan, the franchise’s biggest star was running back Herschel Walker, who set a league rushing record in 1985 with 2,411 yards in a single season.

Under Trump’s leadership, the Generals hired coach Walt Michaels and began recruiting established NFL veterans, including quarterback Brian Sipe. Despite these considerable financial outlays and strategic efforts, the team experienced mixed results. Over the two seasons Trump owned the team, the Generals compiled an overall record of 25 wins and 11 losses. They managed to reach the playoffs twice, but on both occasions, their postseason run was cut short in the first round by the Philadelphia Stars.

Historians of the sport often point to Trump’s ambition to shift the USFL to an autumn schedule, positioning it for direct confrontation with the NFL, as a catalyst that hastened the league’s eventual demise. The USFL operated from 1983 until 1985, ultimately ceasing operations in 1986 following an unsuccessful antitrust lawsuit filed against the NFL. The recent sale of this jacket encapsulates that specific chapter where sports, business ambition, and politics converged, naturally drawing the attention of collectors interested in Trump’s pre-presidential business career.

The high price achieved at auction underscores the collectible value of memorabilia tied to significant, albeit brief, moments in American sports history, especially when linked to figures who later achieved national prominence in other fields. This white satin garment is more than just team apparel; it represents a bold, high-stakes venture into professional football ownership during a turbulent period for alternative leagues.