U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) may gain a political boost in next year’s elections with the addition of an NFL veteran to the Republican roster. Jay Feely, a former NFL placekicker who played for more than half a dozen teams over a 13-season career, announced Wednesday that he will run as a Republican in the race for Arizona’s open 5th Congressional District seat. The 48-year-old father officially launched his campaign this week. “I’m excited to announce my candidacy for U.S. Congress in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District,” he wrote in a simple statement on X. “I look forward to earning your vote.”
The seat is currently held by six-term Republican Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who entered Arizona’s gubernatorial race earlier this year. His departure opens the door for Feely, who now has a strong shot at winning a district that has remained solidly Republican since the Tea Party surge of 2010. “It was a big decision for my entire family, but I think my wife and I both feel that this is the right decision for us,” he told reporters following his announcement in Gilbert, ABC15 reported. Feely reportedly spoke with Biggs first before making his decision.
“We had breakfast, and I just said, ‘You know, what are your you know, what are your intentions? What are you going to do?’ He said, ‘I’m all in and running for governor.’ I said, ‘Okay, then I’m going to actually consider running for your seat, because I have a tremendous amount of respect,’” Feely told reporters.
A Tampa, Florida native, Feely played college football at Michigan before joining the Florida Bobcats in the Arena Football League. In 2001, he signed a one-year, $200,000 deal with the Atlanta Falcons and earned all-rookie honors in his debut season. His success as a placekicker led to stints with several NFL teams, including the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears.
Feely retired from the NFL in 2014 and joined CBS Sports Network the following year as a college football analyst. His success in broadcasting led to a variety of roles, including commentary during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four and appearances on CBS’s NFL coverage. Feely lives in Arizona with his wife, Rebecca, and their four children. His oldest son, Jace, has followed in his footsteps as a kicker for the University of Colorado. Given Feely’s long-standing support for President Donald Trump—including sharing photos of the two golfing together on social media—it’s likely he’ll receive Trump’s endorsement in what’s expected to be a competitive GOP primary.