Jay Feely, a former NFL placekicker who played for teams including the New York Giants, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals, announced on Tuesday that he is running as a Republican candidate for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, as reported by The New York Post.

Feely, 48, is entering the 2026 race to replace Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who earlier this year announced a run for Arizona governor. Arizona’s 5th District is a Republican stronghold, with both Biggs and President Donald Trump securing victories by a 20-point margin in the last election.

In an interview with ESPN, Feely said, “I’m excited about this next chapter of my life. 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.”

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He added, “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 pointed to the July 2024 assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, as a turning point.

“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.”

He revealed that both Trump and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) had encouraged him to run in 2022, but he declined at the time due to family commitments. Now that his children are out of high school, Feely said he is ready to step into public service.

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Jordan has already endorsed Feely’s campaign.

“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.”

I’m honored to have the endorsement of Congressman @Jim_Jordan, a fearless conservative and unwavering champion of the America First agenda.

His support is deeply meaningful as we launch this campaign to defend our freedoms and deliver real, lasting results for the East Valley. pic.twitter.com/3IVgPBWwXg

— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) April 22, 2025

Feely joins former state Rep. Travis Grantham and Army veteran Alex Stovall, a former Trump campaign field organizer, in the GOP primary.

Feely’s background includes a 14-season NFL career, during which he made 332 of 402 field goal attempts. After retiring in 2014, he spent a decade broadcasting NFL games for CBS.

“I’m so grateful for my 10 years at @CBSSports,” Feely posted. “They took a chance on a kicker and allowed me to be in the booth calling NFL games… I enjoyed every minute and I will miss the people I worked with the most.”

I’m so grateful for my 10 years at @CBSSports
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

— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) April 22, 2025

He also served on the NFL Players Association’s executive committee, focusing on players’ health insurance and benefits.

Feely said his experience under pressure as a professional athlete and broadcaster will help him connect with voters.

“[I] think that’s one of your biggest jobs as a congressman — to be able to communicate to your constituents… to be able to do it in a way that people can understand it,” he said.

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