The NFL has incredible athletes. Some players go beyond that. They hold degrees from top universities and studied challenging subjects while playing football. These guys prove you can excel in class and on the field at the same time.
What these athletes studied matters. It shows current college athletes that sports and academics aren’t enemies. You can do both well. Here are some of the most educated players in NFL history and what they learned.
Academic Achievements in Professional Football
Several NFL players earned degrees from Ivy League schools and other prestigious universities. They didn’t just coast through on athletic scholarships. They took education seriously and earned degrees in tough fields.
Ryan Fitzpatrick played quarterback for 17 seasons. He graduated from Harvard with an economics degree. His Wonderlic score was 48 out of 50. That test measures cognitive ability. His academic background helped him understand complex playbooks and make quick decisions when defenses brought pressure.
John Urschel played for the Baltimore Ravens while studying advanced mathematics. He got his bachelor’s degree in math from Penn State. Then he completed a master’s degree while playing pro ball. In 2019, he earned his PhD from MIT. Urschel published academic papers on graph theory and numerical analysis. He retired from football at 26 to focus on his doctoral work.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif from the Kansas City Chiefs earned his medical degree from McGill University in Canada. He balanced med school with professional football. Often he studied playbooks and medical textbooks at the same time. During COVID-19, he skipped the 2020 NFL season to work in a long-term care facility. He put his medical training to actual use.
Managing College and Athletic Demands
College athletes face unique challenges with their time. Division I athletics is intense. Practices, games, travel, and training take up massive hours each week.
Many student-athletes need structured approaches to handle coursework. Some work with academic advisors who plan class schedules around athletic commitments. Others develop strict time management systems to finish work fast.
For athletes in demanding majors like engineering, pre-med, or business, the paperwork piles up. Deadlines stack up and practice runs late. Having reliable resources becomes essential. Some students ask essay service writers for help with how to structure their papers or how to understand difficult projects. These tools assist athletes in staying on track without giving up on their training. Student-athletes can focus on doing well in both areas if they get good support. Finding the perfect balance for your scenario is the most important thing.
This balance gets easier once you build good habits and know what resources work. Many successful NFL players credit their college years with teaching them discipline and time management. Those skills served them throughout their careers.
Players Who Studied STEM Fields
Science, technology, engineering, and math degrees are hard. Yet several NFL players pursued these fields and succeeded.
Frank Ryan played in the 1960s and earned a PhD in mathematics from Rice University. He worked on his dissertation during his playing career. After retiring from football, he taught math at various universities.
Richard Sherman, the star cornerback, graduated from Stanford with a communications degree. He maintained a high GPA throughout college while starting for Stanford’s football team. Sherman was on track for graduate studies before the NFL called.
Josh Dobbs played quarterback for several teams and earned an aerospace engineering degree from the University of Tennessee. His classmates called him “Passtronaut” because of his dual interests in football and space. Dobbs completed internships at aerospace companies during college summers while also training for football season.
Business and Economics Degrees
Many NFL players chose business-related majors. They recognized the value of understanding finance and economics for future careers.
Peyton Manning studied speech communication at Tennessee but took extensive business courses too. After retiring, he built a business empire with multiple franchise ownerships and endorsement deals. His education prepared him for life after football.
Andrew Luck graduated from Stanford with an architectural design degree. His Stanford education taught him analytical thinking and problem-solving. Luck was known for his intellectual approach to the game. He retired early, citing the importance of his long-term health and quality of life.
Why Education Matters for Athletes
The average NFL career lasts 3.3 years. Even successful players who last a decade retire in their early 30s with 40+ years of life ahead. A solid education provides options for what comes next.
Long-Term Career Planning
Players who take education seriously transition better into post-football careers. Myron Rolle, former NFL safety, attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He studied medical anthropology there. After a brief NFL career, he went to medical school. Now he works as a neurosurgeon.
Financial Security Beyond Football
Understanding business and finance helps players avoid the money problems that hit many former athletes. Players with business degrees often start successful companies or make smart investments during and after their playing careers.
Building Professional Networks
Top universities provide access to alumni networks beyond sports. These connections lead to business opportunities, mentorships, and career guidance when football ends.
Lessons for Current Student-Athletes
College athletes today can learn from these educated NFL players. Your degree isn’t just a backup plan. It adds value to who you are as a person and professional.
Take classes seriously even when football feels all-consuming. The discipline required to excel in academics while training at an elite level builds mental toughness that helps on the field. Many players say managing their academic workload made them better at handling the mental demands of pro football.
Choose a major that interests you for real. Not just the easiest path. Players who pursued their actual interests stayed more motivated and performed better in both academics and athletics. Your education should reflect your goals beyond football.
Making the Most of Your College Years
NFL players with degrees didn’t succeed by accident. They made deliberate choices about how they spent time and what support they needed.
Build relationships with professors and academic advisors who understand the demands of being a student-athlete. They can help you plan your course load and handle challenging periods when games and exams conflict.
Use your resources. Every university has tutoring centers, writing labs, and study groups for athletes. Taking advantage of these services isn’t a weakness. It’s smart resource management.
Remember that your identity goes beyond football. The players in this article are remembered not just for athletic achievements but for intellectual accomplishments too. Building a well-rounded identity serves you throughout life.
Your time as a college athlete is limited and valuable. Make it count on the field and in the classroom. The educated NFL players here show it’s possible to achieve at the highest levels in multiple areas when you commit to excellence in everything you do.