Report: Paul Finebaum considering run for U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, leaving ESPN

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is reportedly considering leaving the network to run as the Republican candidate for the top US Senate seat in Alabama. He told OutKick‘s Clay Travis that the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk made him rethink his priorities.

Now 70 years old, Finebaum could see a major career change. He told OutKick that he struggled to do his show following hearing the news of Kirk’s death.

“I spent four hours numb talking about things that didn’t matter to me. And it kept building throughout that weekend,” Finebaum said. “I felt very empty doing what I was doing that day … It’s hard to describe, not being involved in politics, how that affected me and affected tens of millions of people all over this country. And it was an awakening.”

Kirk, 31, was killed on September 10th during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. He was an outspoken right-wing activist who made his bones as a talk show host and debater, especially on college campuses. He challenged both sides of the aisle to discuss many of the hot button issues throughout America.

Finebaum’s reaction to the news of Kirk’s death really changed the way he thought, as he told Travis. A sports radio show amid that news seemed irrelevant to him. Now, he could take his career into the direction of politics.

“One or two people in Washington had reached out to me about whether I would be interested in politics, something I never thought about before. Something I didn’t really think possible,” Finebaum said. “I gave some thought to it as the [after Kirk’s murder] weekend unfolded and got a little bit more interested.” 

Finebaum actually changed his perspective on the Senate seat once Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach, said he would run for Alabama governor. Not only that, recently retired Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl said he would not run for a Senate seat, despite rumors linking him to the job.

“I was … hesitant at first because I was very aware of Bruce’s interest and [I’m a] huge fan of Bruce … I didn’t take it too seriously,” Finebaum said. “I ended up talking to someone … who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved. And this person … was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about this.”

Finebaum actually opened up to Travis about his political allegiances, which he never really discussed while on the air for ESPN. He hosts his own radio show, plus has regular appearances on Get Up, First Take and SportsCenter, among others. Finebaum also said he voted for current President Donald Trump in the most recent election and added: “but (ESPN) also tells us not to discuss that.”

“I’ve never said this before, but why am I going to hold this back,” Finebaum said. “I just moved and registered in Alabama, but I am a registered Republican in North Carolina as of this hour. And I was a registered Republican in Alabama before I moved.”

The qualifying deadline, as Finebaum said, is in January. So right now, he doesn’t know for certain if he is going to leave ESPN and run for office, but expected to make his decision in the next “30-to-45 days.”