Jon Runyan For Congress: San Diego Charger To Run For Congress In New Jersey

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — Shortly after signing with the San Diego Chargers, Jon Runyan announced he'll retire at the end of the season and run for Congress in New Jersey.

The 35-year-old offensive lineman said in a statement late Tuesday that he told Republican officials in Burlington County of his plans to challenge Democratic Rep. John Adler in New Jersey's 3rd District.

"I look forward to a successful end to my career on the field," Runyan said, "and a spirited campaign against Congressman Adler in 2010."

Runyan, who was signed as a free agent Tuesday, hasn't played since the end of last season. He wasn't re-signed by Philadelphia after having surgery on his right knee.

Runyan has not given interviews about his political ambitions or said much about his stance on issues. A previous statement mentioned the country was being taken in the wrong direction by career politicians "incapable of solving the problems we face."

The seat was held for more than two decades by Republican Jim Saxton, who retired last year.

Adler, who replaced him, is seen as vulnerable. He was a popular state senator, but is a Democratic first-term representative in a district that traditionally supports Republicans.

Adler voted against a health care overhaul bill this month, rousing opposition from the left. Adler's chief of staff, Jill Greco, said the Congressman is "not thinking about partisan politics or next year's election."

Runyan, who played 13 seasons in the NFL for Houston, Tennessee and Philadelphia, was one of the more popular Eagles. He never missed a game in nine years with the Eagles, starting 192 straight regular-season games.

Parts of three counties make up the 3rd District, which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs to the shore. Runyan lives in Mount Laurel, N.J.

Comments

[gerontion72]

10:43 AM on 11/29/2009

When I saw the headline, I knew he was running as a Republican­.

[flymic]

11:53 AM on 11/30/2009

yup, me too. I only clicked the link to confirm. the nexus between athlete's and politics lies at taxes and religion. For linemen its almost certainly the latter.

[SouthJerseySteve]

12:08 PM on 11/26/2009

Just because you can play football, doesn't make you a politician -- just ask Lynn Swann when he ran against PA Gov. Eddie Rendell.

[jack7576]

10:06 AM on 11/26/2009

good luck Jon

we need real guys like you in congress

GOP 2010

[unkn1]

08:49 PM on 11/27/2009

As opposed to the not-really­-guys like McConnell, Craig, Foley, and Graham?

[EBDave]

08:04 AM on 11/26/2009

Dick Grayson meet Jon Runyan

[OrcinusOrca]

05:04 AM on 11/26/2009

One of the dirtiest players in NFL history wants to go into politics. Makes sense.

[jsarets]

04:04 AM on 11/26/2009

He'll probably win.

Adler is weak. He's that kind of social liberal, fiscal conservati­ve that doesn't speak to pocketbook issues and provokes the right with things like needle exchange and pretentiou­s environmen­talism.

The district is a gerrymande­red collection of posh central Jersey towns from Cherry Hill on the West to Long Beach Island on the East. Property tax rates are the major local issue.

[way2muchsense]

08:01 AM on 11/26/2009

And when he's elected, he'll vote the party line 110% of the time. That's all we need, another one of those.

[SouthJerseySteve]

12:06 PM on 11/26/2009

Not so fast!!! Adler voted AGAINST the Health Care Bill in the House!!!! He may not be as outgoing as Cong. Grayson (how I love and very happy for Orlando residents)­, but he does work hard for all his constituen­ts in his district, which I am part of!

[unclelew]

12:08 AM on 11/26/2009

At first glance you'd think Runyan would be disqualifi­ed to run as a Republican­. After all, he went to university­.
But salvation is at hand — Runyan was ranked number two on the NFL's Dirtiest Players List in a Sports Illustrate­d magazine sroty.

[bjammin]

11:54 PM on 11/25/2009

Really not having a go at him personally but putting a block on other 300+ lb men doesn't actually qualify you for a seat in Congress. If he put the hard yards (see what I did there?) for several years in local government first, I'd take him more seriously.

Won't matter to a lot of GOP voters though. Get ready for 'Sports is the same as Politics" metaphors to fill the airwaves.

[ptrgamb]

11:00 PM on 11/25/2009

There's actually a New Jersey tradition of "celebrity­" football players running for office as Republican­s and losing badly. The names Pete Dawkins and Phil McConkey come to mind. And, of course, in neighborin­g Pennsylvan­ia, Lynn Swann.

[AngusC]

10:57 PM on 11/25/2009

Went to university with Big John.
We lived in the same dorm.
I remember the first day of school in the cafeteria line I was standing behind him in line and thinking, wow this guys is just huge. I had never seen anyone that big in high school.
He was always an OK guy to me.

[springsm]

10:34 PM on 11/25/2009

If he is like many of these football stars...he is a fundamenta­list religious zealot. And if he is comin from San Diego...he will fit right in.

[quincyyyyy]

09:53 PM on 11/25/2009

I hate Eagles even more now.

[spytheweb]

08:41 PM on 11/25/2009

He wants to take the country in the direction Bush/Chene­y were heading.

[n5ifi]

11:35 PM on 11/25/2009

You mean the same thing Obama is doing?

[Smartone]

08:06 PM on 11/25/2009

Gee wonder what is stance is on Unions ?

Since he is in a Union and he has benefited from collective bargaining

[quincyyyyy]

09:52 PM on 11/25/2009

he is only for rich people unions.

[TheStreamAlwaysWins]

10:35 PM on 11/25/2009

See, socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor.

[seagullking]

08:05 PM on 11/25/2009

Bet he'll win. Name recognitio­n is all that matters with (R) candidates­.