Ex-NFL Kicker Jay Feely Eyes Congress Run in Arizona

A former NFL player might be swapping his cleats for a Congressional seat. Jay Feely, a former kicker for the Arizona Cardinals and current CBS analyst, is reportedly "seriously considering" running for Congress in Arizona's 5th Congressional District.

According to the Arizona Republic, Feely is preparing to launch his campaign as current Representative Andy Biggs vacates the seat to pursue a gubernatorial bid. The district, with roughly 45% Republican voters compared to 20% Democrats, has traditionally leaned red since its formation in 1983, save for a brief six-year period.

Feely's ties to Republican heavyweights, including golfing with former President Donald Trump at Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago, and his connections with state GOP leaders seem to bolster his political prospects. Clearly, the guy knows how to network both on and off the fairway.

Notably, Feely wouldn't be the first athlete to transition into politics—names like Tommy Tuberville and Herschel Walker come to mind. The overlap between sports stardom and political ambition seems to be a growing trend.

Feely's NFL career began undrafted out of Michigan in 1999, where he was part of the 1997 national champion team. After a stint in the Arena Football League, he debuted in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons in 2001, playing four seasons there. His career later included runs with the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and finally the Arizona Cardinals, wrapping up with the Chicago Bears in 2014. Quite the journey, even if he narrowly missed a Super Bowl win with the Giants in 2007.

As Feely mulls over his next move, the question remains: Can his kicking skills translate to navigating the political field? Time will tell.