Citing a desire to give back to the state that has given him so much, former University of Alabama and NFL quarterback AJ McCarron is a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of Alabama in the 2026 statewide election cycle.
Born and raised in Mobile, McCarron helped lead the University of Alabama to back-to-back national championships in 2012 and 2013 as starting quarterback under head coach Nick Saban, who instilled in him proven principles of leadership and success.
He continues to hold the team’s career passing yards record and won the 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which recognizes the best NCAA upperclassman quarterback based on field performance, character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, and leadership qualities.
McCarron finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2013, as well.
After entering the NFL draft in 2014, he played a total of nine seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, and Atlanta Falcons, where he continued motivating his teammates with his leadership abilities, hard work, and the example he set.
McCarron also started as quarterback for the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks and won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award before retiring from professional football in late 2024.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, McCarron publicly endorsed Donald Trumps while taking his Cincinnati Bengals teammates to a rally at U.S. Bank Arena and credits the 45th and 47th president with inspiring him to run for elected office.
McCarron said the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who often professed his Christian beliefs during appearances across the nation, also convinced him to “get off of the sidelines and get into the game” by offering himself for public service.
Dedicated to his community and committed to character education, McCarron has personally led a free summer football camp for Alabama youths for each of the past 10 years.
He currently works as a popular college football analyst and co-owns McCarron Real Estate with his wife, Katherine Webb McCarron, who represented Alabama in the Trump-owned Miss USA pageant in 2012.
The McCarrons reside in Mobile and have three young sons, aged nine, six, and four.
