College football legend Jim Tressel, renowned for leading Ohio State University to a national championship in 2002, has been nominated as the state’s next lieutenant governor. This nomination aligns him with a growing trend of sports figures transitioning into political roles.
Affectionately known as “The Senator” during his coaching tenure due to his composed demeanor, Tressel has long been speculated as a potential political candidate, despite never holding an elected office. Following his coaching career, he served as the president of Youngstown State University.
His nomination raises the question of which other notable athletes and coaches have made similar transitions into politics.
For instance, the 38th U.S. president made a name for himself as a football player at the University of Michigan before moving onto a significant political career, which included serving as vice president and later succeeding Richard Nixon.
Another example includes the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Georgia, who unsuccessfully sought a U.S. Senate seat in 2002. Recently, he has been appointed ambassador to the Bahamas.
In the NFL, a Hall of Fame wide receiver who played for the Seattle Seahawks transitioned into politics and served in the U.S. House. Similarly, a former quarterback from the University of Tennessee, who was a Heisman Trophy runner-up, was elected to the U.S. House and completed three terms.
Another notable case is former Auburn University head football coach, elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020. Additionally, a wide receiver who celebrated four Super Bowl victories with the Pittsburgh Steelers exited the race for governor of Pennsylvania in 2006.
Moreover, a former coach with three national championships at Nebraska later represented his constituents in Congress throughout the 2000s.
In the realm of baseball, a former MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers lost his 2024 U.S. Senate bid in California. In contrast, a basketball hall of famer and two-time NBA champion with the New York Knicks successfully served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 20 years and attempted a presidential run in 2020.
Lastly, a three-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns had a distinguished political career as mayor of Sacramento, California. Additionally, a former quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills served in the U.S. House and as the nation’s housing secretary, also being Bob Dole’s running mate in the 1996 presidential election.
