Who are some pro athletes that went on to be politicians?

Answer 1

Bill Bradley was a starting forward on the New York Knicks teams that won the NBA championship in 1970 and 1973 who was elected United States Senator from the state of New Jersey in 1978. He was re-elected in 1984 and 1990.

Tom McMillen played in the NBA for 12 years with several teams between 1975-1986. He was elected as Maryland's 4th District representative to the United States House of Representatives in 1986. He served three terms.

Steve Largent was a Hall of Fame receiver for the Seattle Seahawks between 1976-1989. He spent four terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives between 1994-2002 from the 1st District of Oklahoma.

Jim Bunning was a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies between 1955-1971. He represented the 4th District of Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives between 1987-1999. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1999 and has served there to present day.

J.C. Watts played quarterback for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League between 1981-1986. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives as the representative from the 4th DIstrict of Oklahoma in 1994 and served four terms.


Jack Kemp played quarterback for several teams in the NFL and CFL between 1957-1969. He was a representative from Buffalo in the United States House of Representatives for nine terms, served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George H.W. Bush, and was the Republican Party's Vice Presidental candidate in 1996.