U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler runs the ball during a charity football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 in Asheville, N.C. The Asheville Police Department and the N.C. Highway Patrol faced off to benefit Eblen-Kimmel Charities, with Shuler quarterbacking the Highway Patrol team.

A Heath Shuler pass slips through the fingertips of Tennessee wide receiver Cory Fleming on on November 28, 1992.

Former Tennessee football great Heath Shuler signs a Tennessee jersey with his name and number at the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. Heath and his son Navy Shuler, a current UT quarterback, are bringing a reproduction of their jersey number 21 to Alumni Hall to support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.

Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inductee Heath Shuler on playing QB for Vols.

Democrat Heath Shuler, back, embraces Blakley Wilden, front, as they watch early election returns in Shuler’s 11th Congressional District race against incumbent Rep. Charles Taylor in Asheville, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006.

** FILE ** Washington Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler puts his hand to his helmet during the Redskins 14-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in this Nov. 26, 1995 photo at RFK Stadium in Washington. In the mountains of western North Carolina, former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler and the man he is trying to oust from Congress, Rep. Charles Taylor, R-N.C., are debating issues like illegal immigration, foreign trade and the war in Iraq.Thousands of miles away, in San Diego, Jason Woodmansee worries that one crucial issue is being overlooked in one of this year’s most competitive U.S. House races:”From an objective, quantitative viewpoint, Shuler was a terrible NFL quarterback,” Woodmansee writes on his blog www.StopShuler.com.

Heath Shuler, left, talks with Vice Mayor Jack Sharp just before a press conference introducing Shuler as coach of the Tennessee RiverHawks, National Indoor Football team. 2003

Former Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler, top right, shares a laugh with children with the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. Heath and his son Navy Shuler, a current UT quarterback, are bringing a reproduction of their jersey number 21 to Alumni Hall to support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., during the Evening in Orange gala to support the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday, April 30, 2011. Rumors are swirling on the Internet that Shuler is being considered for the UT Athletic Director position.

Former University of Tennessee quarterback heath Shuler waves to fans while serving as this year’s grand marshall in UT 1999 Homecoming Parade. Sept. 24, 1999 Clay Owen The Knoxvile News-Sentinel staff

Former Tennessee quarterback and North Carolina congressman Heath Shuler signs a football for John Dempster during a reception before the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony at the Knoxville Convention Center on Tuesday, July 26, 2016. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)

Democrat Heath Shuler, right, celebrates with supporters as he holds his daughter Island, 1, after winning the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina in Asheville, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006. Shuler defeated incumbent Rep. Charles Taylor.

Former Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler attends the South Carolina game on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Shuler is the U.S. representative to North Carolina’s 11th District.

Kristi Dennis, center, receives an autographed football from former UT quarterback Heath Shuler that she won at the Family Christian Expo. At left is Mike Carlton, a developer, and Brenda J. Albert, Heath Shuler Realty, as they stand in front of the pool at Wesport Homes on July 29, 1998.

Current Tennessee quarterback Navy Shuler, left, and his dad and former Tennessee football great Heath Shuler, right, share a laugh at the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. The father and son duo are bringing a reproduction of their jersey number 21 to Alumni Hall to support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.

Former Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler, top right, and his son and current UT quarterback Navy Shuler, second from top right, pose for a photo with children with the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. The father and son duo are bringing a reproduction of their jersey number 21 to Alumni Hall to support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.

Heath Shuler later returned to Washington as a congressman.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler runs the ball during a charity football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 in Asheville, N.C. The Asheville Police Department and the N.C. Highway Patrol faced off to benefit Eblen-Kimmel Charities, with Shuler quarterbacking the Highway Patrol team.

Former Tennessee quarterback and North Carolina congressman Heath Shuler signs a football for John Dempster during a reception before the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony at the Knoxville Convention Center on Tuesday, July 26, 2016.

Democrat Heath Shuler, left, watches election returns with his father Joe Benny Shuler, right, and brother Benjie, center back, during Shuler’s 11th Congressional District race against incumbent Rep. Charles Taylor in Asheville, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006.

Emmet P. ‘Buck’ Vaughn Jr. and Linda with Heath Shuler at the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony at the Knoxville Convention Center on Tuesday, July 26, 2016.

Washington D.C., March 2, 2007- Former University of Tennessee and Washington Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler, walks through an underground passageway that leads to Capitial Hill for a meeting on March 1, 2007. Shuler is a Freshman congressman from the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

Democrat Heath Shuler, right, celebrates his victory in the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina with his wife Nikol, second from left, and son Navy, second from right, and Island, left, in Asheville, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006. Shuler defeated incumbent Rep. Charles Taylor. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler throws the ball during a charity football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 in Asheville, N.C. The Asheville Police Department and the N.C. Highway Patrol faced off to benefit Eblen-Kimmel Charities, with Shuler quarterbacking the Highway Patrol team.

Darrell Akins, chairman and partner of AkinsCrisp Public Strategies, talks with U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a former UT quarterback, during a luncheon at the Neyland Stadium Skybox in honor of Sen. George Mitchell, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. Sen. Mitchell delivered the inaugural Baker Distinguished Lecture at the University of Tennessee, part of a series organized by the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.

0902_KCLO_Wade_03_MBW.jpg — U.S. Representative Heath Shuler, left, was among many to congratulate newly sworn-in Tennessee Chief Justice Gary R. Wade, right, after his Swearing-In Ceremony as the 29th chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court Saturday morning, Sept. 1, 2012 at the Sevier County Courthouse. The Sevier County native was formerly on the Court of Criminal Appeals. He succeeds Chief Justice Cornelia A. Clark.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, center, talks with Will Overstreet during the Evening in Orange gala at the University of Tennessee on April 30, 2011. Shuler, a Democrat representing in the 11th District in Western North Carolina, will run Duke Energy’s lobbying operation in Washington after the end of his term.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler runs the ball during a charity football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 in Asheville, N.C. The Asheville Police Department and the N.C. Highway Patrol faced off to benefit Eblen-Kimmel Charities, with Shuler quarterbacking the Highway Patrol team.

Former Volunteer Heath Shuler on the sidelines before the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2013.

Washington D.C., March 2, 2007- Former University of Tennessee and Washington Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler, has a meeting in his Washington D.C. office. Shuler is a Freshman congressman from the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina.

Former Tennessee players Jayson Swain, left, and Heath Shuler, right, talk about the Battle at Bristol with Jerry Caldwell, center, of Bristol Motor Speedway in downtown Bristol on Friday, September, 9, 2016 during the Battle on the State Line Kickoff and Pep Rally.