Feely won the Republican primary in July 2026, securing almost 50% votes. Thomas James Feely is back in the headlines as he runs as the Republican nominee for Arizona ’s 1st Congressional District in the US midterm elections . Feely will be facing Democrat Amish Shah in a race for an open House seat after Republican David Schweikert decided to run for governor. Feely played as a kicker whereas Shah worked as a team physician.
Because feely and Shah previously worked together for the New York Jets, the race has garnered even more attention.
Describing himself as a “staunch supporter of President Donald Trump ”, his campaign focuses on strengthening US-Israel relations, fighting antisemitism , securing borders and supporting Trump’s agenda.
Feely began his professional football career in 2001 with the Atlanta Falcons and played 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Feely finished his NFL career with the Chicago Bears in the year 2014. He joined CBS Sports as a football analyst and reporter for NFL broadcasts in 2015. After spending almost 10 years in broadcasting, he finally turned to politics. Born on May 23, 1976, in Odessa, Florida , his family has a rich history in sports. Feely said the remark targeted two Haitian men whom he had helped bring to the country legally after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and whom he considers members of his extended family. The dispute drew attention during the Republican primary elections in July 2026. Jay Feely’s net worth was estimated between $15.9 million to $65.5 million in 2025, according to Sportico . The report also stated that he earned $220,000 as a CBS Sports commentator in 2024.
During his time as a football player, he also played for the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears. After retiring from professional football, Feely tried his hand at sports broadcasting. His career in football helped him to become a well known figure in Arizona, where he used to play for the Cardinals. Feely has never held an elected office before. His father, Thomas J. “T.J. Feely played college football and later worked as a tennis coach, while his grandfather, Thomas J. Feely was a college basketball and baseball coach. Jay Feely attended Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida, where he established county records for field goals and extra points. Feely supports expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure and building data centers in Arizona, arguing that the technology sector can generate tax revenue, create jobs and strengthen the US economy. He has also backed investment in AI for national defence, especially to compete with countries like China . Chaplik maintained that his comments referred to Feely’s work with non-governmental organizations and his stance on immigration policy, rather than the two men personally. The report was made after analyzing his financial disclosure filed with the US House Clerk. As Jay Feely seeks a seat in the US House of Representatives , his campaign brings together his experience as a former NFL player and sports broadcaster. His positions on key policy issues, along with controversies surrounding his past remarks, have become part of the discussion as he seeks to represent Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.
He has said data centers should use recirculated water and invest in local communities to address concerns about water consumption, electricity demand and rising costs for residents. In May 2026, Feely clashed with Republican primary rival Joseph Chaplik, who accused him of having “imported Haitians” into the US.
