Jesse Craig James (born January 2, 1961) is an American former professional football player and sports commentator. He was a running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League and for the Washington Federals of the United States Football League. He then bacame a commentator for the ABC and ESPN television networks. James ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in Texas in 2012, but was defeated in the first round of the Republican primary.