Former college and NFL coach Derek Dooley has announced a shock move into politics as he joined the Senate race in Georgia.
Dooley is known for his time as the head coach of the University of Tennessee football team, while he also went on to serve as an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and University of Alabama.
On Monday, Dooley announced his 2026 Republican bid for the U.S. Senate in Georgia against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff.
The 57-year-old Dooley is backed by Gov. Brian Kemp, the latter of which whom met with President Donald Trump and said they would try to agree on a preferred candidate.
Anyone anointed by both would be stamped as the Republican front-runner, though Trump isn’t ready to endorse yet and Dooley is moving forward without Trump’s blessing, an indication the joint effort may be faltering.
Dooley, who was last a senior offensive analyst for Alabama from 2022-23, has been teasing a bid since June. He joins a GOP field that includes U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins, as well as activist Reagan Box.
Former Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley has announced a shock move into politics
He is looking to unseat Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff in Georgia’s Senate election
Dooley later went on to serve as an assistant with the New York Giants in the NFL
‘Professional politicians like Jon Ossoff are the problem,’ Dooley said in a two-minute launch video.
‘Lawlessness, open season on the border, inflation everywhere, woke stuff, that’s what they represent. We need new leadership in Georgia. That’s why I’m running for Senate.’
Dooley said he would bring ‘good, old fashioned Georgia common sense,’ and ‘work with President Trump, fight for you and always put Georgia first.’
Dooley is the son of legendary University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley and was a lawyer before he went into coaching.
The younger Dooley was largely seen as a failure during his three years as head coach at Tennessee, compiling a 15-21 record with the Volunteers before he was fired in 2012. He also compiled a 17-20 record as the head coach of Louisiana Tech before that.
Dooley has also served as a tight ends coach for the Dolphins, wide receivers coach for the Cowboys and senior offensive assistant/tight ends coach with the Giants.
Dooley would be far from the first figure coach to run for office. Former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020 from Alabama and is now running for governor. University of Nebraska coaching legend Tom Osborne served three terms in the U.S. House.
In 2022, Trump anointed Georgia football legend Herschel Walker as the state’s Republican nominee for Senate.
He ultimately lost to Raphael Warnock in a runoff.
