Matt Rhule’s Broyles Award Speech Has Everyone Saying the Same Thing After High Praise for Al Golden

Imagine this—you’re watching a big-time award show, and a coach who’s had a crazy journey stands up and straight up pours his heart out about the man who gave him his shot when no one else would. We’re talking about Matt Rhule, the Nebraska head coach, giving mad love to the guy who helped shape his career—Al Golden. But this ain’t just any regular speech. Oh no, this hit deep, and the internet? The fans went wild after hearing what Rhule had to say. You’re gonna wanna keep reading, trust me.

Matt Rhule’s speech at the Broyles Award ceremony had everyone in the room like wow. He’s not just another coach who’s riding his own wave. Nah, this man remembers where he came from and shows love where it’s due. Al Golden, Rhule’s former boss at Temple, was getting mad props for the job he did with Notre Dame’s defense, and Rhule wasn’t gonna let that moment slide. Golden wasn’t just any mentor to Rhule—he was the one who gave him a chance when Temple football was straight-up garbage. Yeah, it was that bad.

But Rhule didn’t care. He didn’t wait around. Rhule drove 11 hours with his wife and pets just to meet Golden in Philly. That drive? It paid off big time. Golden gave him a call back a month later, and boom, that’s when Rhule started climbing. “I pulled into North Philadelphia, introduced myself to him, said, ‘Hey, I’d love to work for you someday.’ He didn’t have a job. About a month later, he called me,” Rhule recalls. That was the start of something big, and it wasn’t about titles—it was about the grind.

During his time with Golden, Rhule wore many hats—D-line coach, offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator—rising quick because Golden saw something in him. Rhule didn’t just learn how to coach; he learned how to build a program from the ground up. “He taught me a lot. He taught me how to work. He certainly worked. And that’s something I try to carry with me.” Those lessons are what helped Rhule rise from Temple to Baylor, to the NFL, and now to Nebraska, trying to bring the Cornhuskers back to prominence. It’s a full-circle moment for Rhule, but it wasn’t just about him. This night was about Golden, the mentor who helped him get there.

And when Rhule said, “To be here tonight to support high school winners is something that I’m passionate about,” you could feel the sincerity. He wasn’t just there for the awards; he was there to give respect where respect was due. This speech? It wasn’t just a speech; it was a moment that everyone needed to hear. And when the internet heard it? Oh, they couldn’t get enough. They had one thing to say, and one thing only.

The fans on the Internet were speechless, with only one word

So when Broyles Award posted the 15-minute speech, fans rushed to share their thoughts. You know it hit different when even the haters couldn’t deny how powerful it was. The comments flooded in, and if you didn’t already know—everyone had one thing on their mind:

The fans started with, My goodness…take the time to watch.” Listen, if you haven’t seen it yet, what are you doing? You’re straight up missing out. Rhule’s words were more than just talk. It was real talk, straight from the heart. “My goodness, you NEED to watch this!” is what they’re saying.

The next fan came with a claiming coupon, “That’s my coach 🫶🏽.” If you’ve been a Rhule fan, this was your moment. People all over Twitter were like, “Yeah, that’s MY guy!” You could feel the pride radiating from fans who’ve been rocking with Rhule since the Temple days. And they didn’t just love Rhule—they loved how he showed love to Golden. It was more than football—it was personal.

This user tweeted, “Definitely worth watching.” The reaction wasn’t just loud—it was loud AND heartfelt. People got real after hearing Rhule break down what Golden meant to him. The whole speech? It resonated deeply, and fans couldn’t stop talking about it. Props to Rhule for shouting out his mentor, Al Golden, the way he did. Matt Rhule was preaching all night: “It’s hard to be an assistant coach. It’s hard every single day to walk in, take the head coach’s message and make it your message. Take decisions that sometimes aren’t yours and make them yours.”

Another user chimed in with, “Damn, that was awesome.” Real talk, that was the energy in the room. Rhule didn’t just talk about football; he talked about life. He talked about belief, about building from nothing, and about how high-school coaches change lives. Then he gave props to high school coaches, “Every step along the way, from Temple to Baylor to Valley University to Nebraska, I’ve always hired at least one, if not multiple, high school football coaches because college football is getting ruined by guys coaching just for the money.” Fans couldn’t stop clapping, and neither could we. “Damn, that was fire!” The love for Golden was clear—Rhule made sure to give him his flowers.

A non-Nebraska fan came to pay respect after hearing Matt Rhule’s speech:“Even if I wasn’t a Huskers fan, that was an amazing speech!! Thank you coach Rhule! GBR.” This was for everyone who’s ever been mentored, who’s ever been shown love and belief when they didn’t deserve it. It was bigger than Nebraska—it was about people lifting others up, and fans from everywhere could feel that energy. And yes, Al Golden was right there in the mix, getting his well-deserved praise.

“I want them to remember us, and I want them to know that we care, because somewhere in your building is a kid like my son, and somewhere in my building is a kid like your son, and maybe he’s nervous, and maybe he’s anxious. Can I do it? Can I not do it? But every single day, I want to find something, something to believe in him with, something to inspire him with.” The audience was in complete awe.

End of the day, coaching isn’t just about winning—it’s about shaping lives and igniting belief in those who need it most. Rhule’s legacy will burn through the generations, not in trophies, but in the warriors he’s raised.