Former NFL Kicker Backed By Trump Wins GOP Primary

A former NFL kicker endorsed by President Donald Trump won the GOP nomination for a highly competitive House seat in Arizona on Tuesday night. 

Jay Feely, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, will attempt to keep Arizona’s 1st Congressional District Republican in November. The district’s current representative, Republican David Schweikert, did not run for re-election, choosing instead to mount a run for governor. 

“Thank you, Arizona! I am truly humbled by this massive outpouring of support. It is time for Republicans to unite, we have a lot of work to do between now and November to ensure we keep this crucial seat RED!” Feely said Tuesday night. 

Feely defeated former state Rep. Joseph Chaplik, a founding member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus endorsed by the NRA, and John Trobough, a business executive. He won 49.7% of the vote to Chaplik’s 35.6% and Trobough’s 14.6%. 

His opponent in the general election will either be former state Rep. Amish Shah or former TV journalist Marlene Galán-Woods. While Shah currently leads by seven points, the race has not yet been called. 

Trump endorsed Feely in January 2026, calling him a “fierce” MAGA advocate who “would work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”

Feely emphasized his Trump endorsement throughout the primary and said he would be able to call him once in Congress. 

“Who can call [Trump] and who can get him to answer? That’s me,” he said during a debate. “He will take my call and he will listen. I have the ability to have the ear of the president.”

Feely’s campaign website lists his priorities as border security, cutting regulations, keeping men out of women’s sports, increasing energy production, and standing with Israel. 

The district, which covers large swaths of Maricopa county, went for Schweikert in 2024 by roughly four points and Democrats are focusing on it as one of their key targets.

Feely played with six different teams through his NFL career which stretched from 2001 to 2014, including four years for the Atlanta Falcons, two years for the New York Giants, two years for the New York Jets, and four seasons for the Arizona Cardinals. He scored 1,445 points throughout his career and made 82.6% of his field goal attempts. 

Trump-endorsed Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, easily defeated Schweikert in the race to take on Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs in November.