Former University of Tennessee Football Coach Derek Dooley Enters Georgia’s High-Stakes U.S. Senate Race

The race for Georgia’s U.S. Senate seat is heating up as former college and NFL football coach Derek Dooley officially launches his Republican campaign to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Dooley is the son of legendary University of Georgia head coach Vince Dooley. He attended Clarke Central High School before earning his undergraduate degree in Foreign Affairs and Government at the University of Virginia, where he walked on to the football team as a wide receiver. He later returned home to earn his law degree from the University of Georgia.

Before entering coaching, Dooley practiced law in Atlanta. He went on to spend nearly three decades coaching at the collegiate and professional levels, including stops in the NFL and at powerhouse college programs. He also served as a Division I head coach and athletic director, a rare dual role in college athletics.

Now, Dooley is stepping into politics for the first time, running as a self-described political outsider focused on what he calls “Georgia First” leadership.

“I’m running because Georgia needs new leadership in the U.S. Senate, someone who will actually represent the people of this state,” Dooley said in his campaign launch. “Not professional politicians looking for their next promotion in Washington.”

Dooley has already secured a major endorsement from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, positioning him as a leading Republican contender in the race. His campaign also reports raising nearly $2 million in just under two months, an early fundraising surge signaling strong GOP momentum.

The former coach has aligned himself closely with former President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, emphasizing border security, lower taxes, and conservative cultural issues as key priorities if elected.

However, Dooley enters the political arena without prior elected experience, and with a mixed record during his tenure as head coach at the University of Tennessee, where he compiled a 15–21 record before being fired in 2012.

Despite that, Republicans see him as a strong challenger to Ossoff, who is widely viewed as one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the U.S. Senate.

The Georgia Senate race is expected to become one of the most closely watched and most expensive contests in the nation as both parties fight for control of the chamber.

With endorsements rolling in and national attention growing, the battle for Georgia’s Senate seat is officially underway.