A former NFL player and a physician who once worked for the same football team are now set to face each other in one of the most closely watched U.S. House races of the 2026 midterm elections.
Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker and CBS Sports broadcaster, won the Republican primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District, while Dr. Amish Shah, an emergency physician and former Arizona state representative, secured the Democratic nomination. The two will meet in the general election on November 3, 2026, in a race that could help shape control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The matchup has attracted national attention because Feely and Shah were both part of the New York Jets organization during the 2008 and 2009 NFL seasons. Feely was the team's placekicker, while Shah served as a sideline and emergency care physician for the franchise. Available reports do not describe Shah as Feely's personal physician.
Feely, 50, enjoyed a 14-year NFL career with multiple teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears. After retiring from professional football, he worked as a football analyst for CBS Sports before entering politics.
His opponent, Dr. Amish Shah, is a board-certified emergency physician who previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives. Shah also worked with the New York Jets during Feely's time on the roster, overseeing emergency medical care as part of the team's medical staff.
Although the two shared the same NFL organization nearly two decades ago, there is no indication in verified reports that they maintained a close relationship after their time with the Jets.
Arizona's 1st Congressional District is widely regarded as one of the country's most competitive House seats. The district includes Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills and parts of northeast Phoenix, making it a major battleground for both political parties.
The seat became open after Republican David Schweikert chose to run for Arizona governor rather than seek another term in Congress. Both Democrats and Republicans view the district as critical in the fight for control of the House following the 2026 midterm elections.
Shah defeated several Democratic challengers, including former television news anchor Marlene Galán-Woods, to secure his party's nomination. His victory was viewed as a setback for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which had endorsed Galán-Woods during the primary campaign before later backing Shah for the general election.
Shah previously represented Arizona in the state legislature and was the Democratic nominee for the same congressional district in 2024, when he lost to Schweikert in the general election.
Feely secured the Republican nomination after defeating former Arizona state representative Joseph Chaplik. During the primary campaign, he received the endorsement of President Donald Trump, a factor that drew national attention to the race.
According to People, Feely has described himself as an "America First" conservative and said his decision to run for Congress was influenced by the attempted assassination of Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Reports have highlighted the unusual nature of the race, noting that Feely and Shah were colleagues within the New York Jets organization during the 2008–09 seasons before embarking on very different careers in broadcasting, medicine and public service.
With the district expected to be highly competitive, political observers from both parties are closely watching the contest.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)