Dana White, a wrestling icon and NFL vet: Meet the sports figures who could get tapped for Trump’s White House

The next Donald Trump administration is being cut from an entirely different cloth than the first. 

Yes, he stuck to the usual suspects when he first entered the White House in 2017 by choosing an oil executive (Secretary of State Rex Tillerson), investment banker (Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin), and a handful of political insiders. 

Now though, after admittedly hiring ‘disloyal people’ eight years ago, Trump is dealing from an entirely different deck altogether: Vaccine critic and Washington outsider Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is ‘going to pretty much do what he wants,’ Trump said earlier this week, while billionaire Elon Musk is poised to fire thousands of federal employees.   

And then there is Susan Wiles, the country’s first female White House Chief of staff and the daughter of late NFL placekicker and legendary announcer Pat Summerall. Although not a sports star in her own right, Wiles is tangentially related to the sports world, which offers Trump a growing tranche of alternative candidates for White House positions. 

The following is DailyMail.com’s look at the athletes, coaches and sports executives who could find their way into a second Trump administration after supporting his campaign: 

Donald Trump watches Alabama-Georgia alongside Senator Tommy Tuberville (far right)

 Donald Trump is seen with chief of staff Susie Wiles, the daughter of Pat Summerall

Tommy Tuberville

Trump may have no a stronger ally in the senate than the Alabama Republican and former Auburn football coach, but that’s the exact reason why the 70-year-old Tuberville is a long shot here.

When Reuters floated Tuberville’s name as a potential Transportation Secretary, a spokesperson for Tuberville said he ‘looks forward to championing President Trump’s agenda in the Senate.’

Tuberville is best known as the former head coach of the Auburn Tigers 

His communications director Mallory Blount Jaspers put a finer point on it in a statement to Yellowhammer News: ‘He believes that President Trump needs a sledgehammer in the Senate and right now he is focused on playing that role.’

Trump previously tapped another Alabama senator, Jeff Sessions, as his first Attorney General in 2017 only for Sessions to resign a year later under intense criticism from the President for recusing himself from the federal election interference investigation.

Still, Trump had considerable turnover during his first term in office, and a similar scenario over the next four years could create opportunities for a loyalist like Tuberville in the White House or State Department.

As for his qualifications, Tuberville was the AP Coach of the Year in 2004, when he guided the Tigers to an undefeated season and a controversial No. 2 ranking, nationally. Previously the long-time college football insider served as a defensive coordinator in Miami, where he coached Ray Lewis and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and later had stints at Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Cincinnati.

Oh, and he also serves on the Senate Agriculture and Armed Services Committees. 

Walker accidentally referred to Trump as ‘Donald Trump Jr.’ at a recent campaign event 

Herschel Walker

Another candidate from the Southeastern Conference, this former Georgia running back and Heisman winner lost his only senate bid in 2020, meaning he is more or less available should Trump need him.

Of course, the same issues that plagued Walker’s senate campaign could prove to be similar obstacles when it comes to getting a job in the Trump administration. The 62-year-old former NFL star was accused of paying women to get abortions in spite of his pro-life stance, although he has denied these claims. Furthermore, his own claims he worked in law enforcement were found to be either false or unverifiable.

Herschel Walker was among the best running backs in the NFL in the late 80s and early 90s

Then there were the repeated campaign gaffes, which included a series of nonsensical answers. At a recent campaign event, Walker accidentally referred to Trump by his son’s name, Donald Trump Jr.

But Walker does have a major advantage after working for or with Trump on three separate occasions: First as a running back for the Trump-owned New Jersey Generals of the old USFL, as a contestant on the second season of NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice, and as co-chair on the President’s Council on Sports from 2019 until 2020.

And while he may not have been entirely serious, Trump did float Walker for one government job during a campaign stop last week.

‘We will build a missile defense shield,’ Trump said. ‘We’ll put Herschel Walker in charge of that little sucker.’

As for Walker’s ability to handle a missile defense shield responsibly, it’s probably worth noting he admitted in 2015 to playing Russian roulette ‘more than once.’

‘I wasn’t suicidal,’ Walker said, explaining he was ‘just looked at mortality as the ultimate challenge.’

Dana White

Trump has tapped the UFC President and CEO to speak for him at the last three Republican National Conventions, leading many to wonder if he’d serve a greater role at some point.

‘His base is Trump’s base,’ Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s former White House counselor, previously told The New York Times of White. ‘And Trump’s base is his base.’

But unlike Walker, the MMA promoter is very busy these, particularly with a UFC Fight Night card on Saturday and Jon Jones’ return to the octagon at UFC 309 on November 16. So it’s no surprise that the 55-year-old White is initially balking at the mere suggestion of a White House post.

‘Donald Trump is one of my very good friends,’ White told Sports Business Journal through a spokesperson. ‘He did a great job in his last term as president, and I know he will do an even better job the next four years. I have no personal political aspirations.’

Donald Trump, UFC president Dana White, and Kid Rock pose for a photo during UFC 295

Besides, White may provide a greater service to Trump through what The New York Times calls ‘cage-match politics.’ Trump now makes regular cage-side appearances at UFC events, where fight fans — and the fighters themselves — have showered the former President with adulation.

The best example of this came on June 1 at UFC 302 in Newark, where Trump was met by thunderous applause as he strolled onto the Prudential Center floor alongside White.

After being feted for several minutes, Trump shook hands with dozens of onlookers, including announcers Joe Rogan and Jon Anik, before making his way to his seat to watch lightweight Islam Makhachev defeat Dustin Poirier in the main event.

The scene was a dramatic departure from a day earlier, when Trump was convicted of 34 counts of fraud in New York.

To Trump, or any politician looking to turn the page on a damning story, a readymade audience of supporters can be a useful tool in a media arsenal.

Woody Johnson

The 77-year-old Johnson & Johnson heir and billionaire Trump donor served as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom for nearly three years during the Republican’s first term in office.

A team spokesman declined to address the owner’s political and professional plans for Trump’s second term, although there remains speculation Johnson could serve the administration in one way or another.

The New York Post has reported Jets employees are keenly aware Johnson could return to politics, perhaps even in the same capacity he previously served.

It’s a possibility some fans might welcome.

Trump listens as his former Ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, speaks in February 

Johnson bought the team in 2000 and initially enjoyed some success with head coaches Herm Edwards, Eric Mangini and Rex Ryan, who led the Jets to seven playoff berths over his first decade at the helm.

But New York has now gone 13 seasons without a postseason return, and at 3-6, the current Jets appear unlikely to reach the playoffs once again.

Most recently, Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh after consecutive losses last month. That decision prompted criticism from Bill Belichick, who famously defected from the Jets to the New England Patriots after a single day in 2000.

‘Yeah, well look, that’s kind of what it’s been there at the Jets,’ Belichick told Eli and Peyton Manning on ESPN last month. ‘They’ve barely won over 30 percent in the last 10 years. The owner being the owner, just ready, fire, aim.’

Meanwhile, fans haven’t been shy about criticizing Johnson at MetLife Stadium. In fact, a chant of ‘sell the team’ was heard during last week’s win over the visiting Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium.

Ex-administrator of the Small Business Administration Linda McMahon speaks at the 2024 Republican National Convention. She’s currently leading Trump’s transition team

Vince McMahon (right) and Donald Trump attend a press conference about the WWE at the Austin Straubel International Airport on June 22, 2009 in Green Bay

Linda McMahon

Along with Howard Lutnick, the founder of the brokerage firm Cantor Fitzgerald, the former wrestling executive is already leading the Trump transition team before he takes office in January.

McMahon is no stranger to politics. The 76-year-old has twice been defeated in US Senate races in Connecticut, where she remains one of the state’s biggest power brokers.

What’s more, she served in the first Trump administration as head of the Small Business Administration before resigning from that post to chair a pro-Trump Super PAC.

And while the sex trafficking lawsuit against her ex-wrestling promoter husband Vince is certainly a distraction, Trump clearly has no aversion to controversy. Besides, the McMahons are long-time friends and trusted allies of Trump.

Don’t be surprised to see McMahon’s name resurface in the weeks ahead.

Hulk Hogan takes the stage during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden on October 27

Hulk Hogan

One of McMahon’s longest business partners, Terry Bollea made a big splash with his Hulk Hogan routine at the RNC, where he was seen ripping off his shirt like it was 1989.

A potential issue to hiring Hogan is that the 71-year-old dropped out of the University of South Florida in 1976 and has been in the ring, more or less, ever since.

Of course, a limited political resume didn’t deter Hogan’s fellow WWF/WWE star Jesse Ventura from becoming Governor of Minnesota, so there’s always a chance.

Besides, Hogan is based in Florida, which means he and Trump are swimming in the same waters, albeit on different coasts.

In fact, Hogan has already floated the idea of joining Trump’s new world order.

‘And when I had Trump in the back at the Garden, I said, ”You know something? This Robert Kennedy Jr, he’s onto something with nutrition,”’ Hogan told Fox News’ Jesse Watters.

‘But if you tag team us up as the mega powers, you know — the MAGA powers, there you go, MAGA powers, RFK Jr. and Hulk Hogan — he can get them eating the right food and I can get all of our kids in shape, brother.’

McEntee (right) was a QB at Connecticut before carrying Trump’s bag for a living 

John McEntee

A former University of Connecticut quarterback, McEntee went from Fox News’ social media team to become Donald Trump’s personal aide and ultimately landed an Oval Office gig.

He was later forced to resign in 2018 because alleged gambling debts jeopardized his security clearance, but McEntee has since returned to Team Trump and now works on Project 2025 – the detailed Heritage Foundation blueprint for the next four years.

So not only is he a loyal Trump supporter and antagonist to the left, whom he frequently mocks on social media, but McEntee is already mapping out the President-elect’s agenda.

Trump distanced himself from the controversial Project 2025 on the campaign trail, claiming he didn’t know about it or who was responsible, but has been quiet about the issue since Tuesday’s victory.

The Project 2025 proposals include expanding presidential power under Trump, firing as many as 50,00 government workers, deportations and a ‘top to bottom (sic) overhaul’ of the Justice Department.

Greg Norman (right) isn’t an American, which limits the rolls he can serve in government, but he has previously served as a back channel between Trump and his native Australia 

Greg Norman

If Trump’s victory does help the PGA Tour to finally merge with Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf, as Rory McIlroy claims it will, that could lead to some free time for Australia’s most famous golfer. The Sports Business Journal reported last month that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which controls LIV, has already launched a search for Norman’s replacement.

Of course, Norman never became a US citizen despite previously being married to two Americans in flight attendant Laura Andrassy and tennis champion Chris Evert. As a result, he’s not eligible for many official positions, but he could offer an unofficial backchannel between Canberra and Washington DC.

He previously boasted about connecting former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Trump, which Norman claims helped lead to a thawing of tensions between the two leaders.

‘I don’t normally give out cell phone numbers of people in my database, but considering it was for the prime minister to call the president of the United States, I thought that would be the right thing to do,’ Norman told Australia’s ABC in 2018.

‘Fortunately it has turned out to be an incredible relationship,’ he continued, adding: ‘The little brother and big brother relationship and bond is strong as it has ever been.’

A Norman spokesperson did not respond to DailyMail.com’s emailed request for comment.

Danica Patrick is no longer driving competitively, but she could get a job in the White House

Favre is battling health issues, but could still serve some function in Trump’s White House

Trump, his granddaughter Kai, Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner and billionaire Elon Musk

The Field

A number of well-known athletes have had minor, somewhat symbolic roles in previous White House administrations. 

Former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger was George H. W. Bush’s chairman on Physical Fitness and Sports before being succeeded by sprint legend Florence Griffith Joyner. In more recent years the position was held by Walker and even Yankees Hall-of-Fame closer Mariano Rivera under Trump.

This time around, pro-Trump sports legends such as former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, World Series winner Aubrey Huff, or even retired Indy and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick could become candidates. 

Wayne Gretzky, too, has been supportive of Trump, and unlike Norman, Canada’s greatest athlete is an American having received dual citizenship when he got married actress Janet Jones in 1988. 

And don’t forget about Caitlyn Jenner. The gold medalist and reality television star has been a long-standing Trump supporter and recently claimed on X that he and Musk will ‘single-handedly save western civilization,’ while offering to serve the President-elect. 

‘I am here and at your service and forever indebted to your sacrifice for this country,’ Jenner wrote on X.