Paul Finebaum has been one of the most recognizable voices in college football for decades. Known for his work on ESPN, the 70-year-old analyst has shaped the conversation around the sport with his strong takes and deep ties to the game.
Now, Finebaum is weighing a surprising new direction that could take him away from sports broadcasting altogether. During a recent conversation with OutKick founder Clay Travis, Finebaum revealed that he has been approached about entering politics.
The discussions centered on an open Senate seat in Alabama, a race that has already drawn speculation about potential candidates from the sports world. While initially cautious, Finebaum acknowledged that a major figure in Alabama politics encouraged him to consider running.
That has made the idea more serious than ever before.
“One or two people in Washington had reached out to me about whether I would be interested in politics, something I never thought about before,” Finebaum said. “Something I didn’t really think possible. I gave some thought to it as the [after Kirk’s murder] weekend unfolded and got a little bit more interested.”
NEW: Paul Finebaum is considering leaving ESPN to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama👀
(via @ClayTravis, @RealDanZak) https://t.co/JqYlS3SrCz pic.twitter.com/IYVjtCtDCh
— On3 (@On3sports) September 29, 2025
His connection to Alabama, coupled with his popularity among SEC fans, has fueled speculation that he could gain real traction in a campaign. He also confirmed his political alignment, describing himself as a registered Republican who supported Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
At this stage, Finebaum has not resigned from ESPN. He continues to host his daily show and contribute to college football coverage. However, he admitted that recent events have pushed him to think about life beyond sports media.
If Finebaum does leave ESPN, it would mark a dramatic career shift. From shaping SEC debates to potentially shaping national policy, his move would be one of the most unexpected transitions in recent sports media history.
Paul Finebaum Was Affected by Charlie Kirk’s Death
The assassination of activist Charlie Kirk has been one of the biggest topics of discussion in American politics over the last few weeks. It was difficult for many to understand what had happened, while some even struggled to move on from it.
Finebaum was among those who were deeply affected by Kirk’s death. During his conversation with Travis, the veteran analyst shared how he felt at the time.
“I spent four hours numb talking about things that didn’t matter to me,” he said. “And it kept building throughout that weekend… It’s hard to describe, not being involved in politics, how that affected me and affected tens of millions of people all over this country. And it was an awakening.”
Finebaum said that he felt very “empty” that day, and what he experienced changed the way he looked at politics.
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