Donald Trump’s newly-announced chief of staff Susie Wiles is a longtime Republican strategist, but she has close ties to the NFL as well.
Wiles, 67, was tapped on Thursday to be part of Trump’s incoming administration, and will be the first woman to hold the chief of staff role after managing his successful campaign.
However, the hiring of Wiles is also noteworthy due to her connection to the sports world, as her late father Pat Summerall was a well-known NFL broadcaster and former player.
The ex-kicker, who played for the Lions, Cardinals and Giants, went on to call 16 Super Bowls on TV and formed a long-running partnership on air with John Madden.
Summerall also called 27 Masters golf tournaments and 21 tennis US Opens – among many other big events – as he was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2010.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump brings Susie Wiles to the podium at an election night watch party
Wiles is the daughter of the late Pat Summerall (left), who formed a long-running partnership with John Madden calling NFL games
Summerall was also honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994, receiving the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award
He passed away in 2013 at the age of 82.
His daughter, at least as of now, is less well-known as she largely avoided the spotlight during Trump’s campaign for re-election.
Nonetheless, she is widely credited within and outside Trump´s inner circle for running what was his most disciplined and well-executed campaign.
‘Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again,’ Trump said in a statement.
‘It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.’
Summerall was a kicker for the Giants (seen above), Lions and Cardinals over 10 seasons
Wiles, 67, will become the first woman to serve as chief of staff in United States history
Wiles is a longtime Florida-based Republican strategist who ran Trump´s campaigns in the state in 2016 and 2020.
Before that, she ran Rick Scott´s 2010 campaign for Florida governor and briefly served as the manager of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman´s 2012 presidential campaign.
Successful chiefs of staff serve as the president´s confidant, help execute a president´s agenda and balance competing political and policy priorities.
They also tend to serve as a gatekeeper, helping determine whom the president spends his time with and whom he speaks to – an effort Trump chafed under inside the White House.
