SEC Network host and analyst Paul Finebaum said he is “considering” leaving the ESPN-owned network to run for the U.S. Senate on the Republican ticket following the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a recent interview with OutKick’s Clay Travis, Finebaum explained that “one or two people in Washington had reached out” to gauge his interest in politics — and that the killing of Kirk fueled a desire for him to be involved.
“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,” Finebaum said of Kirk, who was killed on Sept. 10 during a Utah Valley University event at the age of 31. “… 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. I gave some thought to it as the weekend [after Kirk’s death] unfolded and got a little bit more interested.”
Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, was charged with shooting Kirk after a manhunt involving the FBI, and prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty.
Finebaum, who’s remained quiet about his political beliefs due to ESPN’s policies, explained that he would like to have a decision made “fairly soon.”
“I’ve been made aware that the qualifying deadline is in January; that’s ideal,” he said. “I’d love to get to the end of the season. I don’t know if that’s realistic. I would like to make this decision fairly soon, in the next 30 to 45 days.”
Tommy Tuberville, one of Alabama’s two U.S. senators, is running for governor of the state, which would likely leave the seat open.
Finebaum, 70, said he would fully commit to a Senate seat if President Donald Trump — whom he voted for — called him to fill it.
“Impossible to tell him ‘no.’ There’s no way I could. I would tell him, ‘Yes,’ ” Finebaum said. “The biggest issue is the direction of: ‘Where are we going [as a country]?’ And I don’t like some of that. When I watch a newscast, I know how biased it is because I do this for a living. And that’s incredibly disturbing. But I keep all this to myself. I feel this is a cathartic conversation for me because I’m saying some things that I really did not intend to say when I walked in this room.”
When asked if he voted for Trump, Finebaum laughed and said, “Yes, but [ESPN] also tells us not to discuss that.”
The longtime analyst — who was a columnist and radio host in Birmingham before joining ESPN — thinks he will “absolutely” be a good representative for the people of Alabama.
“One thing I don’t want to do as I sit here as a talk show host is to sound like a politician because I’m not. At least not yet. I’ve been speaking to Alabamians for 35 years,” he said. “I feel like I know who they are. I think they know who I am. … You cannot hide when you’re on a radio show.”
Finebaum and his wife moved back to Alabama from Charlotte, where SEC headquarters is located, earlier this year.
“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.
“… Alabama has always been the place I’ve felt the most welcome, that I’ve cared the most about the people. I’ve spoken to people from Alabama for 35 years, and I feel there is a connection that is hard to explain,” he said.
Finebaum explained that he was hesitant to consider a Senate run because former Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl — who retired from coaching last week — had expressed interest in the seat.
“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 added that he struggled to get through his show after 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.”
Some former ESPNers, including Sage Steele and Michele Tafoya, left the network and pursued careers in political commentary — whether on another network or their own platform.
ESPN star Stephen A. Smith launched a new SiriusXM show this month, where he discusses politics.
Earlier this year, Finebaum advocated for former Alabama football coach Nick Saban to run for senator in Alabama.
“I think coach Saban would be a slam dunk,” Finebaum told AL.com in April. “Immediately, he would be among the best-known and influential individuals in Congress, which would greatly enhance the state of Alabama.
“It would be a huge benefit to college football to have the greatest coach in history representing the sport at its most critical moment.”
