Report: Former Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley, son of Vince, considers Georgia Senate run

Former Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley is considering a foray into politics. According to Greg Bluestein of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the longtime college coach is thinking about making a play to enter the Republican primary for Senator in Georgia.

“The son of legendary Georgia football coach Vince Dooley is weighing a run against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff, a move that could shake up one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races in the nation,” Bluestein wrote. “Derek Dooley, former Tennessee head football coach whose father was a University of Georgia icon, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday he’ll make his decision whether to enter the Republican primary in the coming weeks.”

Dooley cited Georgia needing “stronger” leadership as his interest in the Senate seat: “Georgia deserves stronger, common-sense leadership in the U.S. Senate that represents all Georgians and focuses on results — not headlines,” he said, via Bluestein.

“I believe our state needs a political outsider in Washington — not another career politician — to cut through the noise and partisanship and get back to real problem-solving.”

While Dooley is most well-known for coaching the Volunteers, he’s been around the block with a bunch of different teams, from Georgia to LSU and a couple of stops in the NFL. As Bluestein noted, his father Vince of course has immense ties to the Bulldogs, and his last name carries some weight in the area.

Even if Dooley decided to run, it’d be a fascinating challenge to win the seat. Still, there’s a path, as Bluestein noted, the former college football coach could seek to secure the backing of Governor Brian Kemp and President Donald Trump.

“His interest comes as Gov. Brian Kemp and President Donald Trump are seeking to rally behind a pick and avoid a messy GOP primary fight,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter noted. “Ossoff is the only Senate Democrat on the ballot next year in a state Trump carried in 2024 and is considered both a vulnerable incumbent and a battle-tested campaigner. 

“It’s not certain whether Dooley — a 56-year-old who has never run for office — has a path to a rare joint endorsement from Kemp and Trump. He’s long had close ties to Kemp, but his relationship with Trump’s circle is not known.”

Time will tell if Derek Dooley decides to run for office, and it’s debatable whether he was what it takes to ultimately beat Ossoff if it gets to that point. Regardless, it’ll be a fascinating storyline to follow, as Georgia politics entertains a familiar name.