ATLANTA — Derek Dooley, the son of University of Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley and a former head coach at the University of Tennessee, is considering a run for U.S. Senate in Georgia, adding a high-profile football name to a Republican field that’s quickly taking shape.

Dooley, a longtime college and NFL coach, confirmed he is exploring a bid to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026. His potential entry would further expand a GOP primary already drawing significant attention—and firepower.

“Georgia deserves stronger, common-sense leadership in the U.S. Senate that represents all Georgians and focuses on results − not headlines,” Dooley said in a statement shared by his spokesman. “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.”

Though he coached the rival Volunteers, Dooley’s Georgia roots run deep. His father, Vince Dooley, remains one of the most revered figures in UGA football history. Derek’s own coaching career has taken him across the college ranks and into the NFL, though he was fired from Tennessee more than a decade ago after a string of losing seasons, as reported by AP News.

Dooley’s interest in politics follows a familiar pattern in Georgia, where gridiron fame has often translated into political ambition. In 2022, former Georgia Bulldogs star Herschel Walker—backed by former President Donald Trump—ran unsuccessfully for Senate against Democrat Raphael Warnock.

The Republican field for the Ossoff seat is still forming but already includes prominent names. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-St. Simons, was the first major candidate to declare. He was followed by state Insurance Commissioner John King, who recently said, “This is going to be the most watched, most expensive race in the United States,” during remarks at the Georgia GOP convention in Dalton.

The lane grew clearer last month after Gov. Brian Kemp, once seen as a potential frontrunner, announced he would not run.

For now, Dooley is taking a measured approach, saying, “My family and I are continuing conversations and will make a decision in the coming weeks.”

If he enters, Dooley will attempt to frame himself as a results-oriented outsider, hoping to appeal to voters hungry for fresh voices—and familiar names—in Georgia politics.