He’s bought a leg up on the competitors.
Former NFL kicker Jay Feely — whose profession included stints with the New York Giants and Jets — introduced Tuesday that he’ll run as a Republican for Arizona’s fifth District seat within the Home of Representatives.
“I’m excited about this next chapter of my life,” Feely advised ESPN. “I feel that I really feel God’s calling urgent me into service, and that’s actually what I imagine it’s, 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,” he added.
“I believe it is very much a civil service.”
Feely, 48, is working within the 2026 election for the congressional seat presently occupied by former Home Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) — who introduced in January that he’s working for governor within the Grand Canyon State.
Arizona’s fifth District is taken into account a secure Republican seat, with Biggs and President Trump each profitable the district by a 20 proportion level margin final November.
Feely is the third main GOP candidate to announce a bid for the fifth District.
Former state Rep. Travis Grantham and Military veteran and Trump 2020 marketing campaign discipline organizer Alex Stovall introduced their candidacies earlier this month.
Feely, who describes himself as “a proud conservative and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump,” has already secured a minimum of one notable endorsement, from Home Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
“I’m honored to have the endorsement of Congressman @Jim_Jordan, a fearless conservative and unwavering champion of the America First agenda,” Feely wrote on X. “His support is deeply meaningful as we launch this campaign to defend our freedoms and deliver real, lasting results for the East Valley.”
Feely advised ESPN that Jordan and Trump each requested him to run for Congress in 2022, however he declined as a result of his kids have been nonetheless in highschool on the time.
He indicated that his children being out of the home and the July assassination try towards Trump in Butler, Pa., performed a major position in influencing his determination this time round.
“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 advised Fox Information Digital.
Feely, a former College of Michigan Wolverine, retired from the NFL in 2014 after a 14-year profession, which noticed him play for seven groups, together with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants and New York Jets.
He’s spent the final 10 seasons within the sales space, broadcasting NFL video games for CBS.
“I’m so grateful for my 10 years at @CBSSports,” Feely wrote on X. “They took a chance on a kicker and allowed me to be in the booth calling NFL games (Only the 2nd K ever to do that after the legendary Pat Summerall) I enjoyed every minute and I will miss the people I worked with the most.”
The previous kicker additionally served as a rep on the NFL Gamers Affiliation, the league’s union, and hung out on the physique’s government committee, preventing for gamers’ rights to insurance coverage. F
Feely advised ESPN that the high-pressure conditions he’s skilled as an NFL kicker — the place he made 332 out of 402 discipline purpose makes an attempt — and his broadcasting gig will serve him effectively Congress.
“[I] think that’s one of your biggest jobs as a congressman is to be able to communicate to your constituents, be able to talk about the issues of the day and why you believe the way you believe and to be able to do it in a way that people can understand it,” he defined.
