American history is replete with examples of figures from the sports and entertainment worlds switching gears and turning their attention to politics, and now it appears that another such transition from a well-known media personality could be on the horizon.

As the Daily Mail reports, sources close to the situation indicate that ESPN college football pundit Paul Finebaum is “very close” to departing the network in favor of a U.S. Senate bid from the state of Alabama.

Departure imminent?

Citing Front Office Sports, the outlet revealed that Finebaum’s exit may come sooner rather than later, as he eyes a possible run to replace Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the former college football coach who plans to mount a gubernatorial campaign.

Those with knowledge of the situation suggested to the outlet that Finebaum is likely to wait until the current collegiate gridiron season concludes before finalizing his intentions, however.

During a recent interview with Clay Travis of OutKick, Finebaum explained that the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk prompted him to give serious consideration to making a career change, stating, “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.”

In the wake of the Kirk tragedy, Finebaum said, he found it increasingly difficult to focus on his sports program, saying that it left him feeling “empty.”

“I spent four hours numb, talking about things that didn’t matter to me. And it kept building throughout the weekend,” he continued.

Trump support declared

During the aforementioned interview with Travis, Finebaum made it clear that he is a registered Republican and had supported Donald Trump’s presidential runs, as the New York Post noted.

Finebaum also revealed that back in 2019, he was set to conduct an interview with Trump during the week of the football matchup between Alabama and LSU, when ESPN abruptly scuttled his plans.

The sit-down with Trump was slated to occur at the White House on the Thursday prior to the big game, but when Finebaum informed his bosses at the network of the arrangements, they “killed” the concept, saying, according to the longtime host, “we’re not allowed to mix politics with football.”

Though the interview plan did not come to fruition, Finebaum indicated that “one or two” political insiders in D.C. had “reached out” to assess whether he would be interested in entering politics himself, adding, “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 admitted that if Trump himself requested that he pursue the Alabama Senate seat, it would be “impossible to tell him no,” adding, “There’s no way I could. I would tell him yes.”

Not just Finebaum?

Finebaum is not the only ESPN personality to provoke political speculation in recent months, with First Take host Stephen A. Smith also suggesting earlier this year that, due to his own dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party he historically supported, he has “no choice” but to consider a presidential run, as ABC News reported.

Though Smith, like Finebaum, claims he has been approached by “pundits” and donors urging him to consider throwing his hat into the political ring, he recently said he has high hopes for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as potential 2028 Democrat presidential contenders, perhaps a sign that, despite prior hints to the contrary, he actually plans to stay put at EPSN for the foreseeable future.