Jay Feely to run for the House out of Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is leaving the broadcast booth after a decade and entering the political arena.

Feely told ESPN on Tuesday that he will run for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona's 5th Congressional District during the 2026 midterm election. He formally filed a statement of interest with the Arizona secretary of state earlier Tuesday, which is required before a candidate can begin collecting signatures to get on the ballot. Feely made a public announcement later Tuesday afternoon.

"I'm excited about this next chapter of my life," Feely told ESPN. "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. 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, 48, met with congressional Republicans in Washington, D.C., about a month ago so his wife, Rebecca, could get a better sense of what life with him as a politician would be like. When she was on board with Jay running, he committed to his decision.

Feely said he felt compelled to run for public office after the July assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Feely also said Trump and Rep. Jim Jordan asked him to run for Congress in 2022, but Feely still had kids in high school. This time around, however, he and his wife will be empty nesters by the time the election cycle begins.

Feely -- running for a seat vacated by Rep. Andy Biggs, who recently announced his candidacy for Arizona governor in 2026 -- said his platform will be centered around securing the southern border and the economy.

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