Jon Runyan For Congress? Republicans Attempting To Recruit Former Eagles Tackle

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — Former NFL player Jon Runyan says he's considering running for Congress.

In a statement issued Wednesday by the Burlington County Republican Committee, Runyan says he believes the country is being taken in the wrong direction by career politicians.

Runyan, an offensive lineman, played 13 seasons in the NFL, the last nine with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 35-year-old is out of football this season, though he's talked to the Eagles and other teams about coming back.

If he runs for Congress, it would be in New Jersey's 3rd District, which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs to central New Jersey's beach towns.

The seat was won a year ago by Democrat John Adler. Adler followed Republican Jim Saxton, who retired after more than two decades in office.

(This version CORRECTS Runyan's age to 35.)

Comments

[Shashi0224]

As an Eagles fan and someone who cheered on Runyan, I have to say I would NEVER vote for him as a Republican.

How anyone who was in a union when the workers average million dollar contracts can be a republican is beyond me. Republicans are against unions for those who need it............yet Runyan sure didn't fight the benefits they brought him!

[WorldGoneWild]

I'm not surprised to hear Runyan might run as a Republican. It seems like a rite of passage for athletes to identify with a political party that will steal and starve people to give the elite a tax cut. If Runyan is concerned (aren't we all) about the direction of the country, he should focus on places close to home like that cesspool of a town called Camden, NJ which I'm sure he's driven pass in the lap of luxury many days on his way home from the Linc.

[Shashi0224]

You are so right!!

[BlueFloyd]

has Camden gotten any worse (i didnt think it could) in the last 20 years or so?

I used to drive and walk around downtown Camden, making collections (nightmare of a job), and in mid-morning, before many of the bad guys are even awake, in broad daylight, it was THE SCARIEST , bar none, THE SCARIEST place I have EVER been.