Former NFL placekicker Jay Feely is seeking to move from professional sport into Congress, reflecting a broader trend of athletes entering politics. The article argues that skills developed in sport, including leadership, performing under pressure and coping with public scrutiny, can be valuable in elected office.

Feely, who played for teams including the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals, won Arizona’s Republican primary and is set to face Democrat Dr Amish Shah in the general election. He has highlighted policy differences with Shah, criticising positions he associates with single-payer healthcare, the Green New Deal and opposition to capitalism.