From the Football Field to the Political Arena: Ex-Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel Joins the Ranks of Sports Figures in Politics

Jim Tressel, the former Ohio State University football coach who led the team to a national championship in 2002, has been nominated to be Ohio’s next lieutenant governor. This is a notable step for Tressel, who was often considered for political roles but has never held office. After coaching, he became the president of Youngstown State University.

Tressel joins a list of athletes and coaches who have transitioned into politics. Here are a few examples:

• Gerald Ford, the 38th U.S. president, played football at the University of Michigan. He was a star center and linebacker before serving in the U.S. House and later as vice president.
• Herschel Walker, who won the 1982 Heisman Trophy at the University of Georgia, ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 2002 and was recently appointed by Donald Trump as ambassador to the Bahamas.
• Steve Largent, a Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, served in the U.S. House for eight years after his football career.
• Heath Shuler, a former quarterback at the University of Tennessee and a Heisman finalist, was elected to the U.S. House from North Carolina, serving three terms.
• Tommy Tuberville, a former head coach at Auburn University, was elected to the U.S. Senate in Alabama in 2020.
• Franco Harris, who won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ran for governor of Pennsylvania in 2006 but was not successful.
• Tom Osborne, another college football legend from Nebraska, won three national championships as a coach and later served as a congressman.
• Steve Garvey, a former MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers, lost his bid for the U.S. Senate in California in 2024.
• Bill Bradley, an NBA champion with the New York Knicks, served nearly two decades in the U.S. Senate and even ran for president in 2020.
• Kevin Johnson, a three-time NBA All-Star, was twice elected mayor of Sacramento, California.
• Jack Kemp, who played for the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills, had a long political career, including serving in the U.S. House and as housing secretary. He was also Bob Dole’s running mate in the 1996 presidential election.

These stories highlight the diverse paths athletes take after their sports careers. Many of them use their fame and experience to serve in public office, impacting their communities in new ways.

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Politics, College sports, Sports, U.S. news, General news, Article, 118664367