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Two former professional athletes trading the playing field for the political arena have credited Sean Hannity for their decision to make the move.
“It’s your fault,” former NFL kicker Jay Feely told the Fox News host on his “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast.
“We were talking earlier and both of us started thinking about running for office because of your show. I started going on your show doing the Great American Panel in New York and that’s really when I really started thinking about it,” he added.
ROGER GOODELL AMONG NOTABLE SPORTS FIGURES DONATING TO EX-NFL KICKER JAY FEELY’S TRUMP-ENDORSED HOUSE BID
Former MLB player Mark Teixeira and former NFL player Jay Feely sit down with Fox News primetime host Sean Hannity on the latest episode of the “Hang Out With Sean Hannity” podcast. (Hang Out With Sean Hannity/Screengrab)
Feely, who is now running for Congress as a Republican in Arizona’s first congressional district, then pointed to former MLB great Mark Teixeira, who sat to his right.
“He said he would go to your show and watch it and see it and meet people and that’s when we both started,” he continued.
“And then we’d have a great steak,” Teixeira chimed in, laughing.
The New York Yankees legend is also making his bid for Congress, running to serve Texas’ 21st congressional district as a Republican.
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Jay Feely, former NFL kicker and Republican congressional candidate for Arizona, speaks to members of the media outside a polling location at Fountain Hills Community Center during a primary election in Fountain Hills, Arizona, U.S., on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Arizona’s primaries will provide an early test of how much President Trump’s focus on debunked claims of 2020 election fraud motivates Republicans. (Cassidy Araiza/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The duo became the latest guests on the fan-favorite podcast, starring the primetime Fox News host as he sits down for deep-dive discussions with athletes, politicians, former mobsters, biohackers, fitness gurus and more to discuss the most pressing political and cultural issues of today.
This time, Hannity dug into the unlikely journeys that took Feely and Teixeira from professional sports to congressional campaigns, exploring their careers and what ultimately convinced each of them to seek public office.
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Mark Teixeira, a congressional candidate in Texas, spoke with members of the Republican team during the annual Congressional Baseball Game on June 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Feely spent more than a decade in the NFL, including stints with both the New York Giants and New York Jets, while Teixeira’s 14-year MLB career included a 2009 World Series championship with the New York Yankees.
Now, both are looking to take the competitive instincts that fueled their athletic careers to Washington.
Hannity fans can watch the full episode featuring both sports legends on iHeartRadio, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
