AJ McCarron Steps Away from Alabama Lt. Governor Race to Rejoin Football Ranks
AJ McCarron is putting politics on pause - because football is calling again.
The former Alabama quarterback announced Wednesday that he’s ending his campaign for lieutenant governor of Alabama in 2026, stepping away from the political arena to pursue what he called a “new career opportunity” in football. While the details of that opportunity haven’t been made public yet, McCarron made it clear that it’s a move that demands his full attention.
“With a double-digit lead in the polls and solid fundraising lined up, I was eager to bring a fresh voice and new leadership to the Alabama State House,” McCarron said in a statement. “But football is calling my name again.”
McCarron’s campaign had launched back in October, and for a while, it looked like the former Crimson Tide signal-caller was ready to trade playbooks for policy. His campaign messaging leaned heavily on the idea of being a “conservative outsider,” and he cited the passing of political activist Charlie Kirk as a key reason he felt compelled to enter public service. But now, the competitive fires of the gridiron are pulling him back in - and McCarron isn’t ruling out a return to politics down the line.
“I could return to the political playing field once my career on the football field has truly run its course,” he said.
McCarron’s football résumé speaks for itself. He quarterbacked Alabama to back-to-back national titles in 2011 and 2012, and nearly added a Heisman Trophy to his shelf in 2013, finishing second in the voting. He was taken in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and went on to appear in 19 games over seven seasons, carving out a journeyman career as a reliable backup.
His political campaign, though brief, made waves. According to reports, McCarron registered to vote in Alabama just days before launching his bid.
He publicly backed former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville - now a U.S. Senator - for governor, aligning himself with a wave of political newcomers pushing outsider credentials.
Now, with cleats apparently coming back out of the closet, McCarron is shifting his focus back to the sport that made him a household name in Alabama. The specifics of his new football role are expected to be revealed later this week, but one thing’s clear: the next chapter of McCarron’s career will be written on the field, not the campaign trail.
For fans of Alabama football, it’s a familiar script. When the stakes rise, McCarron shows up - whether it’s under center in Tuscaloosa or now, in whatever football endeavor lies ahead.