Ex-NFL Kicker Jay Feely Announces Candidacy for Arizona Congressional Seat
Retired NFL placekicker Jay Feely has announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona's fifth congressional district during the 2026 midterm election.
At 48 years old, Feely has spent the past decade working as a broadcaster and revealed his plans to ESPN before making a public announcement in Gilbert, Arizona on Tuesday.
"I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life," Feely told ESPN. "I believe that God is calling me to serve in civil service. We need more politicians who are not driven by self-interest and do not view political office as a career."
The current representative for the district, Andy Biggs, has announced his candidacy for governor of Arizona. Feely's platform will focus on the economy and securing the southern border.
Feely has officially submitted a statement of interest to the Arizona secretary of state and can now collect signatures to be on the ballot.
During his 14-year NFL career, Feely made 332 out of 402 field goal attempts (82.6 percent) and 449 out of 452 extra point attempts (99.3 percent). He played for multiple teams including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears.
Feely joined CBS Sports Network as a color analyst in 2015 and also worked for CBS' NFL coverage starting in 2017. However, he felt a calling to make a greater impact and utilize a different platform, leading him to pursue a career in politics.
"I have always been interested in politics and have been involved in various events for local and national politicians," Feely said. "But after the recent assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, I felt motivated to run for public office."
Feely revealed that both Trump and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio had previously asked him to run for Congress in 2022, but he declined due to his children still being in high school. By 2026, his children will be out of high school, allowing him to pursue this new career path.
Originally from Odessa, Florida, Feely played college football at the University of Michigan and was part of the 1997 national championship team. He also played in the Arena Football League before joining the NFL in 2001.
