12 Professional Athletes Who Changed Their Careers to Become Successful Politicians
We have prepared a list of world-famous athletes who busted the stereotype that sportsmen were not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier and could only use their body and skills to be successful. This dozen of political figures were once athletes. However, they managed to change their careers and save their status of high achievers. Let us see how the two different worlds of sports and politics can cross paths and what can come of it.
Kevin Johnson
Today, Kevin Johnson is a Mayor of Sacramento, the capital city of the U.S. state of California. He was elected in 2008 and became the first African-American to hold this position. Once, Kevin Johnson was a professional basketball player in the NBA, being a three-time NBA All-Star and a record-holder. However, the basketballer was highly concerned about the issues of homelessness and gang violence and decided to take control over them and run for the position of the Mayor. Being a B.A. in Political Science, Johnson launched nine important initiatives only in his first term.
Jon Runyan
Now-U.S. Congressman, Jon Runyan, was elected for the position in 2010. However, not many folks know that he is a former professional athlete. Runyan is known for being the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive tackle and an NFC champion. Today, the professional sportsman is the U.S. Representative from New Jersey’s 3rd District. He is a Republican who cast his vote for the offshore oil drilling and Patriot Act.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
It is hard to find a person who does not know the world-famous bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger. The former Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia is also in trend due to his acting career. In 2003, Schwarzenegger was elected as the Governor of California and held the position until 2011. While for Arnold Schwarzenegger politics turned out to be not his most famous occupation, the former sportsman passed the nation’s first greenhouse emissions cap.
Tom Osborne
A famous football player, Tom Osborne, received various awards during his sports career and was a successful coach. However, the former wide receiver decided to try his hand in politics, and in 1995, he was elected as the U.S. Representative from Nebraska’s 3rd District. He held this position for eight years. However, he had only one of his bills become a law.
Steve Largent
Steve Largent is a popular football player, whose career stood out because of particular praise. He was called the best Seattle Seahawks player of all times and is the one to hold six major receiving records. In 1994, Largent was elected as the U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 1st District. His political career ended in 2002, supposedly, due to his answer to a tricky question where he was on 9/11.
Dave Bing
Today, Dave Bing is a Mayor of Detroit, Michigan. However, back in the 70s, he was the best basketball player of Detroit Pistons. Being a seven-time All-Star guard in the NBA, Bing is in the list of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players. The next Bing challenge was to succeed in his political career. In 2009, he was elected for his position, however, during his term, Detroit was named to be the largest city in U.S. history to declare bankruptcy.
Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp was a famous professional football player. In 1971, after substantial volunteer work, he was elected U.S. Congressman of New York 39th district. Jack Kemp passed away in 2009, never establishing the Jack F. Kemp Institute of Political Economy at Pepperdine University. After the sportsman’s death, his son, James Kemp, created the Jack Kemp Foundation that is located in Washington D.C.
Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley is a famous American basketball player who won the world championships with the New York Knicks twice. He also won a gold medal as a member of the Olympic basketball team and was the 1965 NCAA Player of the Year. His person was insomuch legendary that in 2014, Harry Webber made a bronze statue of Bill Bradley and erected it at Princeton University. Back in 1979, Bradley, being a tax and economy expert, was elected U.S. Senator and held this position until 1997. In 2000, he decided even to run for presidency but failed to win.
J.C. Watts
Julius Caesar Watts is the most popular politician from Oklahoma. He was the first Republican African-American congressman to be elected to statewide office in Oklahoma and held the position of the U.S. Representative from the Oklahoma’s 4th district, obtained in 1995, for eight years. J.C. Watts was even called the fourth most powerful Republican in the list of the House politicians. However, before starting the career of a politician, Watts was a famous quarterback of Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts.
Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning is a former Major League baseball pitcher who also decided to switch his career to politics. He was named All-Star nine times and pitched a perfect game in 1964. Bunning was into politics back in the late 70s, serving two years in the city council of Fort Thomas, Kentucky. Then, the famous sportsman was elected U.S. Representative from Kentucky’s 4th district. In 1999, he joined the U.S. Senate and was ranked by National Journal as the second-most conservative U.S. Senator after Jim DeMint.
Heath Shuler
Heath Shuler is a former NFL quarterback. However, his professional career as a footballer was not very successful. He was even ranked the 17th biggest “sports flop” and the 4th biggest NFL Draft bust. Back in 2007, he was elected U.S. Representative from the North Carolina’s 11th district. He is remembered for being a tough opponent who fought against same-sex marriages, abortion rights, and gun control. Heath Shuler became a remarkable politician.
Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann is a former wide receiver who played for Pittsburgh Steelers for eight years and won a lot of awards for his great sporting performance. He is a four-time Super Bowl champion and Walter Camp Man of the Year. In 2002, Lynn Swann was appointed Chairman of the American President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In 2006, he decided to run for the position of Governor, but then officially removed his candidacy.
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