Former Alabama QB A.J. McCarron Announces Personal News on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 12:11 PM ET

A.J. McCarron had an incredible career as a quarterback with the Alabama Crimson Tide. In four years, McCarron completed 66.9% of his passes for 9,019 yards, 77 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions. This includes his senior year in 2013, when he took home the Maxwell Award and finished second in Heisman Trophy balloting while passing for 3,063 yards and 28 touchdowns.

McCarron, coached by Nick Saban, led Alabama to back-to-back BCS National Championship crowns in 2011 and 2012.

He was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent seven years in the league, appearing in 19 games with four starts. He last took the field in the NFL for the Bengals in 2023.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks A.J. McCarron (4) and Joe Burrow (9) talk as the Bengals take on the Minnesota Vikings.© Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In recent weeks and months, there have been rumors that McCarron, a native of Mobile, Alabama, wanted to run for political office. It was reported that the 35-year-old was considering running for a U.S. Senate seat.

On Thursday, AL.com reporter Mike Cason wrote that McCarron announced he will run for lieutenant governor of Alabama in the upcoming election.

"McCarron will be up against Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, Opelika pastor Dean Odle, and commercial realtor Nicole Wadsworth in the lieutenant governor’s race," Cason wrote.

In most cases, the lieutenant governor is the top-ranked political official in a state's government behind the governor and is usually responsible for the state senate and much more.

With this drastic change for McCarron, it will be interesting to see if his illustrious football career helps him in a run for political office.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: