Jim Tressel announces he will not run for Ohio Governor in 2026

Former Ohio State head football coach and current Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel announced he we would not pursue a run for Governor of the state in the 2026 election. Tressel, who coached the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002 during his 10-year tenure at the school, has been his home state’s second-in-command since current governor Mike DeWine appointed him in February.

Tressel replaced Jon Husted after DeWine appointed him to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate. It filled a vacancy created by the 2024 election of current U.S. Vice President JD Vance after two years in the Senate.

After considerable thought and prayer, we have decided not to run for Governor in 2026. pic.twitter.com/iKR8KmMqdE

— Lt. Governor Jim Tressel (@LtGovJimTressel) September 19, 2025

“It has been an extraordinary honor of a lifetime for Ellen and me to serve alongside Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine. After considerable thought and prayer, we have decided not to run for Governor in 2026,” Tressel wrote in a statement released on social media. “I believe that our crucial opportunities in the areas of education and workforce deserve my full attention for the remainder of our term. My goal is to help finish the amazing work started by the DeWin-Husted Administration. Ohio is winning and it must continue!

“Alongside Ted Ginn Jr., we have launched the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, serving over 182,000 students in Ohio Schools. The challenge reflects the administration’s commitment to helping all Ohioans reach their full potential — starting with our youth,” Tressel’s statement continued. “By helping students build lifelong habits around fitness, nutrition, and sleep, we’re laying the foundation for a brighter future in the classroom, in the workforce, and across every community in the Buckeye State. This is more than a challenge; it’s a movement that will truly make a difference.

“We will continue working extremely hard with our talented staff and agency directors to cement the legacy created by one of Ohio’s finest leaders ever, Governor Mike DeWine.”

Tressel compiled a 106-23 career record across 10 seasons as Ohio State’s head football coach between 2001-2010, including winning the 2002 BCS National Championship with a perfect 14-0 season. Unfortunately, Tressel’s time in Columbus didn’t end well after he was suspended for two games by the NCAA in March 2011, to be enforced during the 2011 season.

The punishment came after Tressel failed to properly notify the school of NCAA violations surrounding the infamous “Tattoogate” scandal in which select Buckeyes players were deemed to have received impermissible benefits from a local tattoo parlor. Later that Spring, the NCAA accused Tressel of withholding information and lying to NCAA investigators about the scandal as part of a notice of allegations issued to the school.

Tressel resigned as Ohio State’s football coach on May 30, 2011, just days after a scathing Sports Illustrated report revealed a memorabilia-for-tattoos exchange that dated back to 2002 and involved as many as 28 current and former Buckeyes players. Following a brief foray with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, Tressel returned to his collegiate roots and worked at both Akron and Youngstown State in non-athletic department roles.