GOP Presidential Candidates' Favorite Sports Teams

Donald Trump is a huge football fan. In the early 1980s, the real estate mogul owned the New Jersey Generals of the now-defunct United States Football League. He tried to purchase the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in 2014 and has repeatedly praised New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, whom he considers a close friend, during his campaign.  (Associated Press)

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has been supportive of the Lone Star State’s two NFL franchises, the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans. Cruz also roots for the University of Texas Longhorns’ sports teams.  (Associated Press)

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio attended Tarkio College in Missouri for one year on a football scholarship. Rubio is a lifelong fan of the Miami Dolphins. His wife, Jeanette, is a former Dolphins cheerleader.  (Associated Press)

Dr. Ben Carson hasn’t publicly addressed which sports teams he roots for on game day, but the famed neurosurgeon has addressed safety concerns associated with football. In an Sept. 2015 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Carson said “the human body was not made for that type of abuse,” but added that football is “part of our culture.”  (Associated Press)

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was part of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ original ownership group and remains an avid fantasy football player. He’s also a fan of the Miami Heat. Bush publicly lamented LeBron James’ decision to leave the franchise to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.  (Associated Press)

As a New Jersey native, Gov. Chris Christie grew up rooting for local franchises like baseball’s New York Mets. But Christie is also a huge fan of the Dallas Cowboys, frequently attending games with team owner Jerry Jones.  (Associated Press)

Despite his position as Ohio’s governor, John Kasich, a Pennsylvania native, is a lifelong supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Just don’t tell the local Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals fans.  (Associated Press)