“Ex-Michigan Track Star Sprints into Political Arena for Congress Seat!”

From the electrifying atmosphere of college football’s most daunting venues to the political arena, the journey of public figures can take unexpected turns. Here’s a thought: Just as a kicker might aim for the goalposts in an intimidating stadium, Jay Feely, a member of Michigan’s 1997 national championship team, is setting his sights on a new challenge — a seat in Congress. Will his precision on the field translate to the political field? Former football players transitioning to politics isn’t new, yet each story carries its own twist. With an assassination attempt that shook the nation’s political landscape as his catalyst, Feely’s entry into politics is anything but conventional. LEARN MORE

A member of Michigan’s national championship team from 1997 is officially launching a bid for Congress. 

We’ve seen former football players transition into politicians in the past. Former Georgia star Herschel Walker had a tight race with Raphael Warnock during Georgia’s 2022 Senate election. Of course, we can’t forget former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville. He’s been a U.S. Senator since 2021. 

Although nothing is guaranteed, Jay Feely confirmed this Tuesday that he’s running for the United States House of Representatives during the 2026 midterm election. He’ll try to represent Arizona’s fifth congressional district. 

“I’m excited about this next chapter of my life,” Feely told ESPN. “I think that I feel God’s calling pressing me into service, and that’s really what I believe it is, is the civil service. I don’t believe we have enough politicians that get into political office not for self-serving measures and that get into political office and don’t want it to be a career, and that’s what I believe. I believe it is very much a civil service.”

Feely, 48, played in the NFL from 2001-2014. He made 82.6 percent of his field goal attempts before retiring. The Michigan product didn’t exactly leave the sport behind for good though. CBS hired him as a reporter and analyst in 2015.  

Feely revealed that his passion for politics was sparked by the assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. A 20-year-old named Thomas Matthew Crooks fired several shots at Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

“The lawfare that Democrats did against President Trump and you watched him get shot. That was a big moment for me. I remember starting to really think about running for office the day that he got shot,” Feely told Fox News Digital.

During the 2024 election, Feely showed his support for Trump by showing support for him in Arizona. 

We’ll see if Trump returns the favor when the 2026 midterm elections arrive.

Related: President Trump Won’t Approve Of NFL’s New Proposal For Kickoff Rule