- Tickets MARCA. Get the best tickets for sports events on Tickets MARCA
- NFL. What is the plan of the Jets that is convincing Brady and the Raiders to consider letting go of Mendoza?
Marcellus Wiley is considering a major shift in his career, from professional sports and media into politics.
The former NFL defensive end, who played in the league from 1997 through 2006, has revealed he is thinking about running for mayor of Los Angeles.
Wiley, who later became a familiar face in sports media with roles at ESPN and Fox Sports, shared his political ambitions in a recent interview with Vibe Magazine.
During the profile, he spoke openly about the possibility of entering public service and making an impact in the city where he built much of his life.
"I want to be the mayor of L.A. and see how that goes," Wiley said. "I'm trying to stay still and raise these kids, but at the same time, help make an imprint on our city to bring us closer together."
The former NFL standout indicated that if he does enter the race, he would do so as a Republican, a notable decision in a city where Democratic candidates typically dominate local politics.
Wiley also made it clear he has no interest in taking a politically neutral route by running as an independent candidate, something he believes many public figures use to avoid choosing a side.
"I don't take the cop out of independent," Wiley said. "People say, 'I'm independent.' No, you ain't. Shut it."
When asked to elaborate on his political perspective, Wiley reflected on his upbringing in Compton, California, and how those experiences shaped his views on identity and independence.
He explained that growing up in Compton taught him the importance of individuality rather than strict allegiance to a group or label.
"If I didn't gang bang, if I didn't choose Blood, you think I'm picking Democrat or Republican?" Wiley said. "I'm not loyal like that. I'm not a group. I am me."
While he has not formally announced a campaign, Wiley's comments signal that he is seriously considering the possibility of entering local politics. If he ultimately decides to run, he could become one of the most recognizable candidates in the race thanks to his athletic career and media presence.
Celebrity culture and political momentum
The phenomenon of well-known public figures stepping into political roles isn't new, but it has gained renewed attention in recent decades.
Former reality television host and billionaire Donald Trump, now a two-time president of the United States, was a national figure well before he entered the political arena.
Trump hosted the reality competition series "The Apprentice," where his blunt catchphrase "You're fired!" became part of popular culture and helped cement his status as a celebrity entrepreneur.
Trump's path from real estate and television into politics underscored the power of media visibility: his years on television not only familiarized millions of Americans with his persona but arguably made his name a household brand well before he announced his 2015 presidential campaign.
Despite never holding elected office, Trump became the 45th president of the United States, even though he lost the national popular vote, after winning key battleground states.
After his first term, marked by fierce partisan debate and national controversy, Trump lost his 2020 reelection bid to Joe Biden. But that defeat didn't end his political influence.
In 2024, Trump ran again, securing the republican leader postion, and ultimately became only the second president in U.S. history to serve nonconsecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland more than a century earlier.
For Wiley, who has also cultivated a public profile through media work and podcasts exploring sports, culture and sometimes politics, the question is whether a similar dynamic could play out on a local scale in Los Angeles.