Roger Goodell among notable sports figures donating to ex-NFL kicker Jay Feely’s Trump-endorsed House bid

Jay Feely spent years successful the NFL trying to present successful high-pressure moments. Now, the erstwhile kicker is facing a antithetic benignant of unit constituent arsenic Republicans look to support their slim House bulk successful November’s midterm elections.

Feely hung up his cleats aft the 2014 season, closing a vocation that inactive leaves him 30th connected the NFL’s all-time scoring list. He aboriginal spent respective years covering games arsenic a broadcaster earlier making the leap into politics.

Feely announced his bid for 1 of Arizona’s legislature seats past twelvemonth and is moving arsenic a Republican campaigner successful the state’s archetypal Congressional District. His run has since drawn fiscal backing from respective salient sports figures.

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Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely participates successful the 2026 AZ Clean Elections superior statement for the 1st Congressional District astatine Sneaky Big Studios successful Scottsdale connected June 24, 2026. (Diannie Chavez/The Republic / US)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NBA large Charles Barkley, who spent 4 years of his Hall of Fame hoops vocation with the Phoenix Suns, person some donated to Feely’s campaign, according to nationalist information from the Federal Election Commission.

Records amusement Goodell made 2 donations past June, 1 designated for the superior and the different for the wide election. Each publication totaled $3,500. Individual donors are allowed to springiness up to $7,000 to a campaigner for the U.S. House of Representatives oregon the Senate per election.

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Feely besides picked up an endorsement from President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Feely's run website describes the 50-year-old arsenic a "proud blimpish and staunch protagonist of (Trump)" who aims to "fight for borderline security, support our freedoms, and enactment America First."

David Schweikert has represented Arizona’s archetypal Congressional District since 2011, but helium is present moving for governor.

Jay Feely connected the sideline astatine Allegiant Stadium successful Paradise, Nevada connected Feb. 11, 2024. (Mary Kouw/CBS via Getty Images)

New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft and longtime broadcaster Jim Nantz, who worked with Feely astatine CBS, besides contributed to his campaign. Then-Ravens caput manager Jim Harbaugh donated $2,500 to Feely’s run past September. The Bidwill family, which owns the Cardinals, has fixed a combined $17,000 to Feely’s run done donations from Michael, Nicole and Tim Bidwill.

Feely began his NFL vocation successful Atlanta earlier aboriginal playing for the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals. He closed retired his pro shot vocation with the Chicago Bears.

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Feely pointed to enactment from radical extracurricular his governmental lane arsenic a reflection of his quality and the relationships helium has built.

"It's conscionable been an grant for maine to beryllium astir the NFL for 25 years and to get a accidental to conscionable the people," Feely said. "To person this athletics for maine to conscionable these radical who whitethorn disagree with maine politically, connected a fig of the issues politically, idiosyncratic similar Arthur Blank, who's the proprietor of the Falcons..." Feely told The Arizona Republic.

CBS Sports newsman Jay Feely during the crippled betwixt the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Chargers astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, California connected Sept. 27, 2020. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

"When I reached retired to him, helium said, 'Jay, we disagree politically connected truthful galore issues, but I spot your heart, truthful I'll donate to your run to enactment you.' "

Feely’s governmental level besides extends into assemblage sports, wherever helium has called for tighter regularisation of NIL if elected.

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The National Republican Congressional Committee said successful an April property merchandise that Feely’s run raised $740,000 successful the archetypal 4th of 2026. Election committee records showed helium had an estimated $1.25 cardinal arsenic of precocious March.

Feely faces a competitory superior against Joseph Chaplik and John Trobough. Chaplik was antecedently elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, and Trobough is simply a exertion executive. Arizona voters volition spell to the polls connected July 21.

Feely went undrafted retired of Michigan successful 1999 earlier making his NFL regular-season debut with the Falcons successful 2001.

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