Kicker for Congress? Former NFL player says Trump assassination attempt inspired him to run
Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is set to launch his bid for Congress on Tuesday, entering the Republican primary for Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District in hopes of replacing Rep. Andy Biggs, who is running for governor. Feely, a sports commentator who played for several NFL teams and now works as a CBS Sports analyst, revealed to Fox News Digital that the assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump last year was a driving force behind his decision to run for office.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Feely expressed his interest in politics and cited the attack on Trump as a pivotal moment that inspired him to consider a run for Congress. “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 said.
Feely’s experience on the executive committee at the NFL Player’s Association has equipped him with leadership skills that he believes are transferable to the political arena. He highlighted his involvement in negotiations during a lockout as a valuable experience that prepared him for the challenges of Congress. “Those types of negotiations are similar to what goes on in the House and the Senate and goes on in Congress and, you know, you’re doing those types of negotiations all the time,” Feely explained.
One of Feely’s primary concerns is illegal immigration, which he views as the most pressing issue facing Arizona. He criticized President Biden for failing to take action to address the surge of illegal immigrants entering the country. Feely argued that the border crisis could have been mitigated if Biden had implemented measures similar to those enacted by President Trump.
Despite the solid Republican ranking of the Fifth Congressional District, Feely anticipates a competitive midterm cycle and believes that unity within the Republican Party will be crucial for success. He emphasized the importance of staying united and commended Speaker Johnson for maintaining party cohesion.
Feely joins a field of Republican candidates that includes former House Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham and Army veteran Alex Stovall. The Cook Political Report ranks the district as solid Republican, and it is not a target for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a potential pickup opportunity.
As Feely prepares to launch his congressional bid, he sees himself as a “uniter” who can bring Republicans together in the upcoming midterm elections. With a narrow majority in the House, Feely believes that unity within the party will be essential for advancing conservative priorities and supporting President Trump’s agenda.
Cameron Arcand is a politics writer at Fox News Digital in Washington D.C. Story tips can be sent to Cameron.Arcand@Fox.com and on Twitter: @cameron_arcand.
