Jay Feely

Thomas James Feely, born on May 23, 1976, in Odessa, Florida, began his football journey at Jesuit High School in Tampa, where he established county records for field goals and extra points. He continued his collegiate career at the University of Michigan, earning four varsity letters from 1995 to 1998 and contributing to the 1997 FBS national championship team. As a senior in 1998, Feely converted 17 of 22 field goal attempts and 40 of 41 point-after attempts, earning an All-Big Ten team mention. His longest field goal in college was a 51-yard kick against Baylor. After going undrafted in the 1999 NFL draft, Feely began his professional career in the Arena Football League with the Florida Bobcats in 1999 and the Tampa Bay Storm in 2000, sharpening his skills before entering the National Football League.

Feely’s NFL career spanned 14 seasons, starting with the Atlanta Falcons in 2001. As a rookie, he made 29 of 37 field goal attempts and all 28 extra point attempts, tying for second in the NFC with 115 points and earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. Over the years, he played for the New York Giants (2005–2006), Miami Dolphins (2007), Kansas City Chiefs (2008), New York Jets (2008–2009), Arizona Cardinals (2010–2013), and Chicago Bears (2014). A notable career achievement includes setting a personal best with a 61-yard field goal for the Arizona Cardinals in 2012. He also demonstrated versatility by scoring a rare rushing touchdown on a fake field goal for the Cardinals in 2010. Throughout his NFL tenure, Feely was recognized for his consistent performance, including earning multiple NFL Special Teams Player of the Week and Player of the Month honors.

Following his retirement from professional football, Feely transitioned into media, joining CBS Sports Network in 2015 as a college football color analyst. He expanded his role to become a color commentator for CBS’ NFL telecasts in 2017. Beyond sports, Feely has entered politics, announcing in 2025 his candidacy as a Republican for Arizona’s 5th congressional district, seeking to succeed Andy Biggs. He has publicly articulated his positions as a fiscal and social conservative, and pro-business.