Photo: US House of Representatives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons²

Jon Runyan

Guard, New York Giants · #76.

Player facts

Team: New York Giants
Position: Guard
Number: 76
Born: Aug 8, 1997 (age 29)
Birthplace: Moorestown, NJ, USA
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 307 lbs
College: Michigan
Experience: 7 seasons
Status: Active

About

Jon Daniel Runyan (born November 27, 1973) is an American athlete and politician who was the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 2011 to 2015 as a member of the Republican Party. Before entering politics, he played football for 14 seasons as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was a participant in the 2003 Pro Bowl following the 2002 NFL season.

He was selected by the Houston Oilers in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL draft and later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers. Runyan was the last active NFL player to have played for the Oilers. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines where he was a 1995 All-Big Ten Conference selection. In high school, he had been an All-State (Michigan) selection in basketball and two-time state champion shot putter. He retired at the end of the 2009 NFL season and launched his campaign for Congress against incumbent freshman Democrat John Adler, winning the general election on November 2, 2010.

On November 6, 2013, Runyan announced he would not seek reelection to Congress in 2014.

On May 17, 2016, the NFL announced they hired Runyan as their Vice President of the Policy and Rules administration.

From Wikipedia’s article on Jon Runyan, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.¹

Background

Early years

Runyan was born in Flint, Michigan where his father was an employee of General Motors.

Runyan continues to hold the Flint, Michigan Carman-Ainsworth Middle School shot put record with a 1988 heave of 50 feet 7 inches (15.42 m). Runyan was a two-time Michigan High School Athletic Association state shot put champion for Carman-Ainsworth High School (1991 60 feet 6 inches (18.44 m); 1992 59 feet 5 inches (18.11 m)). He was a 1992 Detroit News second-team All-State basketball center. He was recruited by Michigan State men's basketball, though he declined in order to play football. He chose to play for the Michigan Wolverines football team where he was an All-Big Ten Conference selection for the 1995 Wolverines.

Personal life

Runyan has three children with his ex-wife, Loretta and resides in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. His son, Jon Runyan Jr., played offensive line for the Michigan Wolverines football program and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in 2020 before signing with the New York Giants in 2024.

Runyan appeared as a construction worker alongside other Philadelphia Eagles in the Season 4 episode "America's Next Top Paddy's Billboard Model Contest" of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

In his spare time, Runyan works as an Uber driver in the Philadelphia area. He is an emeritus board member of the Alzheimer's Association's Delaware Valley Chapter, which represents areas in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

From Wikipedia’s article on Jon Runyan, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article.¹