Former Colts Player Looking at Congressional Run in Ohio

Former NFL player Anthony Gonzalez is considering a run for Congress in Ohio’s 16th District, an Ohio paper reported.

The 32-year-old former wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts has been seen taking a series of meetings with state GOP officials as he considers a run for the seat currently held by Republican Jim Renacci, Cleveland.com reported.

Renacci is likely to vacate the seat in 2018 as he gears up a run for Buckeye State governor.

Gonzalez grew up in Avon, Ohio, and is a St. Ignatius and Ohio State University alum. Most recently Gonzalez operated an education technology firm in San Francisco called Chalk Schools, before recently re-locating to Westlake, Ohio.

The 2007 first round draft pick hails from Cuban refugees who fled their homeland to escape oppression, when Fidel Castro took over the island nation. Gonzalez’s father worked his way up the ladder and eventually became president of a Cleveland metal services company.

However, Gonzalez isn’t the only Republican seeking the seat: State Reps. Tom Patton and Christina Hagan have also launched campaigns to compete in the May primary.

Gonzales has made no announcements and thus far has refused to reply to requests for comments on his political aspirations.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.