Monday, August 25, 2025

Derek Dooley enters a different arena, the Georgia U.S. Senate race as Republican challenger to Ossoff

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Former college and NFL football coach Derek Dooley is leaving the sidelines for another arena. 

The son of former Georgia head coach Vince Dooley announced this month he is running as a Republican for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Jon Ossoff. 

He sat down this week with WRBL News 3 Chuck Williams for his annual Sunday Conversation.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Georgia Republicans compete for Trump's coveted endorsement ahead of 2026 primaries

Catch some of the transcript from Williams' Sunday Conversation with Dooley:  

Williams: There is a blueprint for what you're trying to do, and it's right across that river in Alabama, where Coach Tommy Tuberville went from SEC head football coach to the U.S. Senate, now running for governor. But have you talked to Coach Tuberville? 

Dooley: "I have. You know, when I did this, I did a lot of diligence in this process. I didn't take it lightly because it is a big deal. And, of course, one of the things most people were saying, 'Boy, a lot of work. It's a lot of work. You ready for this?' And it started making me a little nervous. Naturally, I feel like I've been working pretty hard. Is it that much harder? So, when I called  Coach Tuberville, the first thing he said was, 'Oh, man, you've been doing this your whole career, just like recruiting.'" 

Dooley: "They need to know that I'm going up to D.C. to put the people of Georgia first. You know, I have a lot of frustration with what's going on. I think some of the D.C. politicians stay up there too long. They do too little. All right. They make too much money, and they're more focused on their political career or a promotion than they are on serving the people of the state. And what I want to do is serve the people of the state first. That's why we want to put Georgia first.  And that's why I think I'm the best candidate to win." 

The entire conversation with Coach Dooley can be seen on News 3 Sunday Morning beginning at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

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