Five former NFL players who have transitioned their football careers to politics

As we are in an election year we could see some former NFL players making a run at a political office.

I remember in 2022, the United States Senate election in Georgia was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the U.S. Senate to represent the state of Georgia. Incumbent Democratic senator Raphael Warnock won his first full term in office, defeating Republican former football player Herschel Walker. I actually met Herschel Walker that year, and I thought about how many other former NFL players actually had a career in politics.

So I figured I would make a list of a couple I could remember. This is becoming a much bigger thing after the playing careers of guys. Here are five that I remember well.

Jack Kemp: Kemp was a quarterback in the NFL for 13 seasons, playing for teams like the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers. After retiring from football, he became involved in politics and served as a U.S. Congressman from New York from 1971 to 1989. He later served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George H.W. Bush.

Alan Page: Alan Page had a successful career as a defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings and later the Chicago Bears. After retiring from football, he pursued a career in law and became the first African American justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court, where he served from 1993 to 2015.

Steve Largent: Largent was a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks for his entire NFL career. After retiring from football, he entered politics and served as a U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma from 1994 to 2002.

Heath Shuler: Shuler played quarterback in the NFL for several teams, including the Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. After retiring from football, he entered politics and served as a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina from 2007 to 2013.

Jon Runyan: Runyan was an offensive tackle who played for several teams during his NFL career, including the Philadelphia Eagles. After retiring from football, he entered politics and served as a U.S. Congressman from New Jersey from 2011 to 2015.

Could we see another former NFL player running for office soon?