Former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley announced on Monday his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Georgia’s 2026 race, challenging Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. At 57 years old, Dooley has secured backing from Governor Brian Kemp and has hinted at a run since June. He enters a crowded Republican primary that includes U.S. Representatives Buddy Carter and Mike Collins, along with activist Reagan Box.
Governor Kemp, who decided against running for the Senate seat himself, has thrown his support behind Dooley. Georgia Republicans are eager to unseat Ossoff, widely viewed as the most vulnerable Democratic senator seeking reelection next year.
In a brief campaign launch video, Dooley criticized career politicians like Ossoff, blaming them for issues such as border security problems, inflation, and “woke” policies. He emphasized the need for fresh leadership in Georgia and positioned himself as the solution.
Kemp and former President Donald Trump have reportedly met to discuss a unified Republican candidate. If a candidate wins endorsements from both, they would likely become the party’s front-runner. Kemp expressed support for Dooley to several GOP figures in late July, prompting Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King to exit the race. However, Trump has yet to officially endorse anyone, signaling potential challenges for the joint backing effort.
Dooley, who has never held elected office, plans to campaign as an outsider. This approach echoes David Perdue’s successful 2014 Senate bid. Dooley promises to bring “Georgia common sense,” work alongside Trump, and prioritize the state’s interests.
The candidate is the son of famed University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley. Before his coaching career, Derek Dooley worked as a lawyer. His tenure as Tennessee’s head coach from 2009 to 2012 was marked by a disappointing 15-21 record, leading to his dismissal. Since then, he has served as an assistant coach for teams including the Dallas Cowboys, University of Missouri, New York Giants, and University of Alabama.
Dooley shares a long-standing connection with Kemp, who was a frequent guest at the Dooley household during his youth and once roomed with Derek’s brother at the University of Georgia. Kemp’s strong political network in Georgia is supporting Dooley’s campaign, including strategist Cody Hall and fundraiser Chelsey Ruppersburg.
Despite this, some Republicans have rallied behind fellow GOP contender Mike Collins, who recently entered the race. Collins counts endorsements from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and several state senators, including the Georgia Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte. Even one of Kemp’s legislative floor leaders, Representative Matthew Gambill, has endorsed Collins over Dooley.
Critics have already targeted Dooley for not backing Trump publicly until now. An anonymous website with a University of Tennessee theme, “Dooley’s Volunteers,” has surfaced, attacking his conservative credentials and recalling negative commentary about his coaching career.
This move to support a political newcomer continues Kemp’s recent pattern. He previously backed Kelly Loeffler for Senate, who lost to Democrat Raphael Warnock in 2021, a race complicated by Kemp’s strained relationship with Trump. Perdue and Loeffler’s defeats handed Democrats control of the Senate. In 2022, Trump endorsed football legend Herschel Walker for Senate, but Walker’s flawed campaign and subsequent loss to Warnock reinforced Kemp’s influence when he campaigned in the runoff.
Their efforts to coordinate candidate selection in 2026 have influenced decisions, such as U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stepping back from a Senate bid under party pressure.
Dooley follows a tradition of football coaches entering politics. His late father was once considered a potential candidate, and his mother ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2002. Similarly, former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville is now an Alabama senator, and Nebraska’s coaching great Tom Osborne served multiple terms in the House.
Derek Dooley was a walk-on wide receiver at the University of Virginia before earning a scholarship. He later earned a law degree from the University of Georgia and briefly practiced law before pursuing a coaching career that led him to head coaching positions at Louisiana Tech and Tennessee.
Also Read:
Ole Miss Freshman Corey Adams Fatally Shot in Tennessee
Sinner, Djokovic, and Draper Withdraw from Toronto Tournament Due to Injuries
