Scott Turner

Eric Scott Turner, born February 26 1972, is an American public servant who has held a variety of roles in sports, business, and government. After a professional football career that spanned eight seasons in the National Football League, he entered politics as a Texas state legislator before serving in the Trump administration’s executive branch. In 2025 he was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the nineteenth Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, where he oversees federal programs related to housing, urban development, and community revitalization.

Early life and career

Turner grew up in the Dallas area of Texas, a fourth‑generation Texan whose family had long been involved with Mount Pisgah Baptist Community Church. At age ten his parents divorced, an event that Turner later described as a formative moment in which he expressed a determination to pursue a professional football career. He attended Pearce High School, where he played both football and track, and worked part‑time as a dishwasher at Spring Creek Barbecue in Richardson during his senior year.

In 1990, Turner earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois. Initially playing wide receiver, he switched to cornerback during his senior season, donning jersey number 21 for the Fighting Illini. His collegiate football career culminated in participation on the 1994 Liberty Bowl‑winning team. In track and field, Turner specialized in sprint events; he was named Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year in 1991, captured consecutive indoor titles in the 400 meters in 1992 and 1993, and earned All‑Big Ten honors from 1992 through 1994. He also contributed to Illinois’ 4 × 400 meter relay teams that achieved All‑American status both indoors (1991) and outdoors (1993, 1994). Turner graduated in 1995 with a degree in speech communications.

Turner entered the National Football League when he was selected in the seventh round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He signed a three‑year contract and played cornerback for Washington from 1995 to 1997, after which he was released by head coach Norv Turner. He then joined the San Diego Chargers, where he played from 1998 through 2002; he was cut following the 2002 season and did not participate in that year’s games. In 2003, Turner signed with the Denver Broncos, but a leg injury sustained during training camp in 2004 ended his playing career. Over eight seasons, he appeared in 101 NFL contests, recording 89 tackles, five interceptions—including one returned for a touchdown—and two sacks.

Following retirement from active play, Turner remained involved with the league as a coach for the NFL’s Legends Community transition program and served as a senior advisor to the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations. His post‑football career also included a period in which he worked at Systemware—a content management software company—from 2007 to 2023, holding various positions including chief inspiration officer.

Turner’s entry into politics began during the 2003 offseason when he interned for U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter and later accepted a full‑time position in the congressman’s office after retiring from football. In 2006 he ran unsuccessfully in a special election for California’s 50th congressional district, finishing eighth among seventeen candidates. Afterward he returned to Frisco, Texas.

In 2012 Turner announced his candidacy for the newly created 33rd District of the Texas House of Representatives, which encompasses parts of Collin County and all of Rockwall County. He won the Republican primary against Jim Pruitt and defeated Libertarian Michael Carrasco in the November general election. Sworn into office on January 8 2013, Turner served two consecutive terms until January 2017. During his tenure he was named to GOPAC’s Emerging Leaders list in 2013 and challenged incumbent Speaker Joe Straus for the speakership in 2015, a contest that resulted in a decisive loss.

From April 17 2019 through 2021, Turner served as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council under President Donald Trump. The council was established by Executive Order 13853 to coordinate federal efforts aimed at revitalizing economically distressed communities. In this role he led the interagency Opportunity Zones Initiative, collaborating with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments nationwide to promote affordable housing development and new business creation.

Turner’s entrepreneurial activities include founding Community Engagement & Opportunity Council (CEOC), an organization that supports children living in poverty; CEOC has renovated the Literacy Lab in Bonton, a Dallas neighborhood. In recognition of his community leadership, he received an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Dallas Baptist University in January 2016. In June 2023 he was appointed Chief Visionary Officer of JPI, a national developer and investment manager focused on Class A, attainable, and affordable multifamily assets across the United States.

Cabinet tenure

On November 22 2024, President‑elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Turner as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for the second Trump administration. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on February 5 2025 with a vote of 55–44. Turner was sworn into office later that day, becoming the nineteenth individual to hold the position.

As Secretary, Turner leads the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which administers federal programs related to housing finance, community development, fair housing enforcement, and urban renewal initiatives. His responsibilities include overseeing HUD’s budgetary allocations, guiding policy implementation across the nation, and representing the department in intergovernmental collaborations with state and local authorities.

Turner’s appointment follows a career that has combined experience in sports management, legislative service, executive administration, and community‑focused business ventures. In his role at HUD he draws upon this diverse background to address challenges related to affordable housing supply, neighborhood revitalization, and equitable access to public services.

Legacy

Turner’s legacy is characterized by a trajectory from athletic achievement to public service that spans multiple sectors of American society. His early years in Dallas and collegiate success laid the foundation for a professional football career that spanned eight seasons across three franchises. Transitioning from sport to politics, he served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives, where he was recognized as an emerging leader within his party’s ranks.

His tenure as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council exemplifies his focus on community revitalization. By coordinating federal resources with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, Turner helped to advance initiatives aimed at stimulating economic activity in distressed areas and expanding affordable housing options. His subsequent appointment as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development extends this mission to a national scale.

Beyond government service, Turner’s entrepreneurial endeavors—particularly the founding of CEOC—demonstrate a commitment to addressing poverty among children through educational infrastructure improvements. The honorary doctorate he received from Dallas Baptist University underscores his impact on community development initiatives.

In sum, Eric Scott Turner’s career reflects a blend of athletic discipline, legislative experience, executive leadership, and philanthropic engagement. His current role as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development positions him at the forefront of national efforts to promote housing stability, urban renewal, and