Former NFL Players Anthony Gonzalez and Colin Allred Win Election to Congress

Two former pro football players have won election to Congress, one as a Republican and the second as a Democrat, Pro Football Talk reported.

Anthony Gonzalez, a former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, won office in Ohio’s 16th District as a Republican after racking up endorsements from U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, GOP House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, NFL great Peyton Manning, and Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

Gonzalez played college football for Ohio State in the early 2000s before going on to a five-season career in the National Football League, mostly with the Colts save a short stint with the New England Patriots at the end of his career.

The 2007 NFL Draft first round draft pick defeated Democrat Susan Moran Palmer to earn his first term in Congress.

Gonzalez caught 99 passes for 1,307 yards and seven touchdowns for the Colts but ended his career with injuries playing only a handful of games in his last few seasons.

The second former player who won office last night is former Tennessee Titans linebacker Colin Allred who won election as a Democrat to the 32nd District in Texas.

Allred played for Baylor before being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Titans in 2006. Allred appeared in 32 games with 46 tackles during his five years with the team.

Allred defeated incumbent Republican Pete Sessions, the chairman of the House Rules Committee.

In total, nine former pro sports athletes ran for office in the 2018 elections.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.