Jon Runyan

Runyan was born in Flint, Michigan where his father was an employee of General Motors.[3]

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).[4] Runyan was a two-time Michigan High School Athletic Association state shot put champion for Carman-Ainsworth High School (1991 57 feet 6 inches (17.53 m); 1992 59 feet 5 inches (18.11 m)).[5] He was a 1992 Detroit News second-team All-State basketball center.[6] 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.[7]

Runyan was drafted in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans).[9] He played with the Houston Oilers in 1996 and became a starter in only the sixth game of his rookie season. He moved with the team as they became the Tennessee Oilers in 1997 and 1998, and finally played one year in the new jerseys as the Tennessee Titans in 1999 when the team made it to Super Bowl XXXIV. Runyan was the last active player in the NFL to have played for the Houston Oilers.[10]

Runyan (No. 69) in an Eagles game against the Dallas Cowboys in December 2007.

Runyan was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles to a six-year, $30 million contract on February 14, 2000 as an unrestricted free agent. The contract made him the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history at the time.[11] Runyan was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2002.

On March 24, 2006, the Eagles announced that Runyan had re-signed with the team with a three-year contract.[12] He had visited with the New York Jets on March 21 prior to re-signing with the Eagles.[13]

In a Sports Illustrated magazine in October 2006, Runyan was ranked second on a list of the Dirtiest Players in the NFL.[14] Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman stated that Runyan "was one of the dirtiest players I've ever been against in my whole entire life. He was real good at being dirty".[15] Runyan did not deny the charges, criticizing the current game instead: "That's the way the game's supposed to be played. I think they’ve tried to change that over the years. It's turned into a basketball game out there."[15]

In a 2007 game against the Dallas Cowboys, Runyan instructed Eagles running back Brian Westbrook to take a knee at the one-yard line rather than score a touchdown with two minutes left in the game so that Dallas would not get the ball back. Westbrook followed Runyan's direction, the play worked, and Philadelphia won the game.[16]

A 2008 poll revealed that getting blocked by Runyan on a screen pass was one of the scariest things in the NFL.[17]

Runyan held the remarkable streak for an offensive lineman of having started 190 consecutive regular season games. This was the second longest streak among active NFL players in 2008. He has also started in all 18 playoff games his teams have appeared in during this streak.

On January 28, 2009, Runyan had microfacture surgery on his right knee.[18] In February 2009, Runyan's contract expired with the team. He worked out for the Eagles on September 10,[19] but did not sign a contract. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers, playing in five games before retiring.

2010

In November 2009, published reports indicated Runyan was interested in running for Congress.[20] On November 24, 2009, Runyan announced his congressional bid to challenge one-term Democratic incumbent John Adler for New Jersey's 3rd congressional district, which included parts of Burlington, Camden and Ocean Counties. Libertarian nominee Russ Conger and Your Country Again nominee Lawrence J. Donahue were also running. Even though he now played for the Chargers, he maintained a home in Mount Laurel, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia (and which coincidentally also happens to be home to the headquarters of NFL Films).[21] On March 7, 2010, the Ocean County Republicans endorsed Runyan.[22] On June 8, Runyan won the Republican nomination.[23] On November 2, 2010, Runyan defeated Adler 50%–47%, becoming the first challenger to unseat an incumbent New Jersey Congressman since Rush Holt in 1998. He lost the Burlington and Camden portions of the district, but carried solidly Republican Ocean County by nearly 20,000 votes, far exceeding his overall winning margin of over 6,000 votes.[24] Runyan is the fourth former NFL player to be elected to Congress, after Jack Kemp, Steve Largent, and Heath Shuler.[25]

2012

Runyan was re-elected, defeating attorney Shelley Adler, the widow of John Adler (who intended to run in a rematch, but died suddenly in April 2011). Shelley Adler had defeated Jason Sansone for the Democratic nomination.[26] Runyan won 54% of the vote, to Adler's 45%.

2014

Runyan announced that he would not seek re-election, after expressing frustration with his fellow Republicans over the government shutdown.[1]

Over the course of his tenure, Runyan sponsored 15 pieces of legislation.[27] Like most New Jersey Republicans, he was considered moderate relative to the national party.[28] He voted with the Republican party 92% of the time. Key votes he supported included the payroll tax cut, the Balanced budget amendment, defunding of National Public Radio, and the Republican budget plan.[29]

In June 2013, Runyan was one of the sponsors to pass an amendment to H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014, which increased the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants, and the Assistance to Firefighter Grants (FIRE) by $2.5 million each.[30]

On November 6, 2013, Runyan announced he would not seek reelection in 2014.[1]

The following is a partial list of bills specifically sponsored (introduced) by Rep. Runyan.

• H.R. 1300 (long title: To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges, and for other purposes) is a bill that was introduced into the United States House of Representatives during the 113th United States Congress.[31] The bill would "extend through FY2017 the authorization of appropriations for volunteer services for programs conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), community partnership projects for national wildlife refuges, and refuge education programs."[31]

• House Armed Services Committee
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Readiness
• House Committee on Veterans Affairs
  • Chairman – Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Health
• House Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs

• Bipartisan Military Veterans Caucus
• Congressional Brain Injury Caucus
• Congressional Gaming Caucus
• House Army Caucus
• House Air Force Caucus
• House Coast Guard Caucus
• House Guard and Reserve Caucus
• House Oceans Caucus
• House Republican Israel Caucus
• House Special Operations Caucus
• House USO Caucus
• International Conservation Caucus
• Military Family Caucus
• Congressional Constitution Caucus[32]