Athletes With Impressive Degrees We Didn’t Know About
It's easy to think of athletes as uneducated. After all, it's tough to compete in the highest-level sports in the world while furthering one's education. While there are plenty of pro athletes with limited educations, there are also a good number who've found the time to pursue higher learning.
The athletic prime of a typical athlete isn't particularly long, so these athletes have taken the long view and achieved academically. They prove it's possible to excel both on the field and in the classroom.
Eric Heiden: Medicine
U.S. Olympian speed skater Eric Heiden is probably best remembered for winning five individual gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Heiden's illustrious athletic career also eventually included competitive cycling.
Later on, Heiden burnished his resume by attending medical school at Stanford in 1991. He then moved on to UC-Davis for orthopedic residency training. He's now a practicing orthopedic surgeon, and has returned to the sports world to serve as team physician for the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
Steve Young: Law
It's hard to overstate the importance of Steve Young to not just the San Francisco 49ers but football in general. The left-handed quarterback won three Super Bowls and two league MVP awards in his Hall of Fame career.
Impressively, Young went back to school not after his football career but right in the middle of it. He returned to his alma mater, BYU, in 1994 to earn a Juris Doctor degree. Since he then passed the bar exam, he's qualified to practice law.
John Urschel: Mathematics
John Urschel played guard for the Penn State Nittany Lions — and then the NFL's Baltimore Ravens — before retiring after the 2016 season. Football was never Urschel's main passion, though, as he'd earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics at Penn State before he even turned pro.
In 2016, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study spectral graph theory, numerical linear algebra, and machine learning. He's now an assistant professor in MIT's Math department, as well as a Junior Fellow at Harvard.
Shaquille O'Neal: Education
Shaq attended LSU prior to his NBA playing days but, understandably, abandoned his education to focus on his basketball career. Later, though, he revisited the idea of higher learning and earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Later, Shaq added to his credentials by attending Barry University, where he earned an advanced degree: Doctorate in Education. If he so chooses, Shaq is free to call himself Dr. O'Neal, Ed.D.
Cris Collinsworth: Law
Cris Collinsworth is a well-known face and voice to NFL fans. He's a longtime broadcaster of NFL games and also enjoyed a successful eight-season career as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.
While Collinsworth is a football figure first and foremost, he also has a law degree in his back pocket. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1991, although he's never been a practicing lawyer.
Jordan McLaughlin: Communication
McLaughlin is still in the middle of his basketball career, having played for the Minnesota Timberwolves since 2019 after spending his collegiate days with the USC Trojans.
A few years into his pro career, McLaughlin elected to return to USC in the offseason to finish what he'd started. In 2022, he earned a master's degree in Communication Management from USC — an impressive feat indeed, considering he was an active NBA player at the time.
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: Medicine
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, a French-Canadian guard who played college football in Canada, took an unconventional route to get to the NFL. Then again, he's an unconventional person in general.
Duvernay-Tardif attended university at McGill University in Montreal, an institution with a sterling reputation. In the midst of his NFL career, he graduated from McGill's Faculty of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery. Now retired from football, he's working on getting a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard.
Michelle Kwan: International Relations
Michelle Kwan was one of the most decorated figure skaters in U.S. history, winning two Olympic gold medals in 1998 and 2002, five world championships, and nine U.S. championships. In retirement, she's continued to represent the sport as an ambassador.
Kwan didn't neglect her education at the expense of figure skating, either. After graduating from the University of Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies in 2008, she attended Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, where she earned a Masters in International Relations.
Manny Pacquaio: Management
The Pacman is one of the top-earning, best-known boxers of all time and is an icon in his native Philippines and elsewhere. His public profile is full of notoriety and controversy, but he's quietly worked on furthering his education throughout his career.
He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Makati in 2019. Three years later, he graduated from Philippine Christian University after earning a master's in Management, where he majored in Public Administration.
Randy Gregg: Medicine
Randy Gregg was a hard-working but unspectacular defenceman who played in the NHL for ten years. While he didn't receive individual accolades, he was a member of the dynastic Edmonton Oilers, where he won five Stanley Cups.
Gregg was working on his medical degree long before he played in the NHL, and he only started playing hockey because his stock had risen so much. After retiring, he completed his residency training at the University of Alberta and currently works as a physician.
Malcolm Brogdon: Public Policy
Portland Trail Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon first turned heads by winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2017. He's since gone on to become a steady player for the Bucks, Pacers, Celtics, and Trail Blazers.
Brogdon's undergraduate degree is in history, and he returned to school to earn a master's in Public Policy from the University of Virginia's Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. His stature has earned him the nickname 'The President.'
Greg McElroy: Sports Management
McElroy enjoyed an illustrious collegiate career as quarterback for Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide, leading the Tide to the 2010 BCS National Championship. He then went on to have a brief career in the NFL for the New York Jets.
McElroy was already a graduate by his senior season with Alabama, as he earned his business marketing degree in just three years. He applied for a Rhodes Scholarship but narrowly missed out. In 2010, he earned a Master of Science degree in sports management from Alabama.
Hayley Wickenheiser: Medicine
Hayley Wickenheiser is one of the most decorated women's hockey players of all time. The longtime Canadian captain won four Olympic golds, along with seven world championships, during her incredible playing career. She's also an Olympian in softball.
Wickenheiser earned a kinesiology degree during her playing career, then in retirement returned to school — this time earning a degree in medicine from the University of Calgary. She's now working towards an advanced skills program in emergency medicine.
Alex Smith: Economics
Alex Smith had an impressive NFL career after being drafted first overall in 2005. The quarterback went on to play for the 49ers, Chiefs, and Washington for more than a decade, retiring after the 2020 season.
While Smith was playing football for the University of Utah's Utes, he completed a bachelor's degree in economics in just two years. He doubled down and began working on a master's degree as well, but his football career took precedence from that point forward.
Ken Dryden: Law
Ken Dryden had a short but incredibly sweet NHL career, with the goaltender playing for the Montreal Canadiens for just eight seasons but winning an incredible six Stanley Cups.
Dryden's career spans far more than hockey, as he's also an accomplished businessman, politician, and author. Towards the tail end of his playing career, he earned a law degree from McGill University, eventually quitting hockey to serve as a law clerk.
Tony La Russa: Law
Tony La Russa is best known for having the second-most managerial wins in Major League Baseball History and winning three World Series titles. Before this, though, he was a below-average infielder for three MLB teams in the '60s and '70s.
Before his playing days, La Russa graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Industrial Management. After he retired, he attended the Florida State University College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1978.
Bill Bradley: Politics
Bill Bradley had a good NBA career, earning an NBA All-Star selection in 1973 and helping the New York Knicks to the 1970 and 1973 championships. He's probably best remembered, though, for his political turn — he served as a senator and later a presidential candidate.
Bradley's undergraduate degree from Princeton was in American History, and he earned a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship from Oxford University. It was at Oxford that he earned a graduate degree in politics, philosophy, and economics.
Gary Fencik: Business
Fencik was a longtime member of the Chicago Bears, earning two Pro Bowl nods and playing a key role in the Bears' iconic 1985 Super Bowl victory.
He played and studied at Yale before turning pro, and towards the tail end of his career, he attended Northwestern — a stone's throw away from Soldier Field — to study business. In 1986, he earned an MBA from Northwestern. He currently works in the finance industry.
Martin Mayhew: Law
Mayhew was an average cornerback during his pro career, which was split between Washington and Tampa Bay. Most notably, he's a Super Bowl champion as a member of Washington's 1991 team.
During his playing career, he attended night school at Georgetown University Law Center to work towards a legal degree. After retiring, he committed himself to studying full-time and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 2000. He's now a member of the Florida Bar.
Dolph Lundgren: Chemical Engineering
Lundgren is best known for his Hollywood roles, but his martial arts prowess nets him a spot on this list. Of course, Lundgren is more than just an actor, strongman, and martial artist — he's also accomplished in the world of academia.
In the early '80s, before he was a household name, the Swedish national earned a chemical engineering degree from the Royal Institute of Technology. He later earned a master's in the same field from the University of Sydney in 1982.
David Bruton: Physical Therapy
Bruton had a productive career with Denver and Washington, mostly on special teams and in the strong safety position. He won a Super Bowl with the Broncos and retired after the 2016 season due to concussion concerns.
Ever since his college days at Notre Dame, Bruton had an interest in education. He worked as a substitute high school teacher during the 2011 NFL offseason, and in retirement earned a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Colorado.
Jenny Thompson: Medicine
Jenny Thompson has an Olympic resume that few can match. The competitive swimmer owns twelve medals, eight of them gold, which she earned across four separate Olympiads.
After retiring from the pool, Thompson got to work studying medicine, earning her medical degree from Columbia University in 2006. She then completed an internship at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Today, Thompson is a residency anesthesiologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Nick Buoniconti: Law
Nick Buoniconti was a ferocious middle linebacker for the dynastic Miami Dolphins of the 1970s. The undersized defender overcame the odds, winning two Super Bowls, earning two Pro Bowl nods, and getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
During his early days as a pro — long before his heyday with the Dolphins — Buoniconti took night classes at Suffolk University, eventually earning a law degree in 1968. In retirement, he was a successful player agent.
Luke Fortner: Mechanical Engineering
Luke Fortner's NFL career is still young — the center turned pro with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Even though he's still in his 20s, Fortner is the proud owner of three degrees: An undergraduate degree and a master's in mechanical engineering, along with an MBA.
Fortner was able to earn these degrees by utilizing an extra year of collegiate eligibility that was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dwayne Woodruff: Law
Dwayne Woodruff spent the entirety of his career — which spanned the entirety of the 1980s — with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom the cornerback won Super Bowl XIV.
In 1988, as he neared retirement, Woodruff earned a law degree from Pittsburgh's Duquesne University School of Law and joined a law firm as an attorney. This meant he was simultaneously a professional football cornerback and a practicing lawyer. He went on to serve as a judge for many years.
Donn Clendenon: Law
Clendenon played Major League Baseball for a little over ten years, but he's best remembered for his surprisingly clutch performance in the 1969 World Series, where his underdog "Miracle Mets" defeated the powerful Baltimore Orioles.
In retirement, Clendenon attended classes at Duquesne University, earning his J.D. degree in 1978. He then moved to Dayton, Ohio, to practice law. His career later brought him to South Dakota where he worked with a different law firm.
Ron Mix: Law
Ron Mix made his debut in the American Football League and continued playing after the AFL merged with the NFL. He was one of the better offensive tackles of the 1960s and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mix spent most of his playing career with the San Diego Chargers, and it was in San Diego that he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1970.
Jarrett Dillard: Law
Jarrett Dillard overcame the odds as a lower draft pick and carved out a niche for himself over three NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After less successful stints with the Lions and Cardinals, he hung up his cleats in 2013.
Following this, the former wide receiver went on to attend the South Texas College of Law, where he graduated with a J.D. degree. He's now a practicing lawyer in Texas.
Sócrates: Medicine
With a name like Sócrates, you'd expect this soccer legend to be a smart person — and while the late Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira wasn't a philosopher, he was a physician.
The Brazilian midfielder represented his country internationally on many occasions. During his career, he also earned a degree in medicine from the University of São Paulo. This earned him the rare distinction of being both a practicing physician and a professional soccer player.
Levi Brown: Human Resources
Levi Brown was a highly touted offensive tackle coming out of Penn State, and he was picked fifth overall by the Cardinals in the 2007 NFL Draft. He went on to spend seven seasons in Arizona before winding down his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013.
While Brown earned two undergraduate degrees during his time at Penn State, he came back to the school after retiring from football to earn a third degree: A master's in Human Resources. He's also working towards an MBA in Financial Psychology.
John O'Brien: Psychology
In an era in which American soccer wasn't particularly respected on the international stage, midfielder John O'Brien earned accolades for becoming one of the first Americans to start for a major European club.
O'Brien turned pro as a teenager and didn't attend college until after his playing days were over. He attended classes at Alliant International University and later graduated with a doctorate in clinical psychology. He now has two medical practices.
Myron Rolle: Medicine
Myron Rolle is regarded as one of the most intelligent NFL players of recent years. While his brief playing career only spanned a couple of seasons, that's because he chose a career in medicine over a career on the gridiron.
After leaving football, he enrolled at Florida State University's College of Medicine. Following his graduation, he completed a neurosurgery residency and is now a Global Neurosurgery Fellow at Harvard Medical School.
Drew McIntyre: Criminology
It's easy to argue that professional wrestling isn't a real sport because it's scripted entertainment with predetermined outcomes. That said, it's hard to argue that pro wrestlers aren't athletes. Drew McIntyre isn't just a wrestler on WWE's Raw brand; he's also accomplished in academia.
As a prerequisite to pursuing a wrestling career, McIntyre's parents asked him to pursue his studies as well. He agreed to the bargain and earned a master's degree in criminology from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Jamie Roberts: Medicine
Welsh rugby legend Jamie Roberts spent a long career playing rugby union across various countries and leagues. He also made nearly a hundred career appearances with the Wales national squad.
In addition to his rugby exploits, Roberts is also a doctor. He began his studies at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, then followed up with graduate studies at Cardiff University's School of Medicine. He graduated in 2013 after studying for eight years.
Anna Kiesenhofer: Mathematics
To some, Anna Kiesenhofer is best known as a professional cyclist after capturing gold in the women's individual road race at the 2020 Summer Olympics for her native Austria.
But Kiesenhofer may be best remembered for her accomplishments in mathematics. In 2012, she earned a master's degree in the field from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and then a PhD from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. She's also a published author of several papers.
Élise Chabbey: Medicine
Swiss cyclist Elise Chabbey might not be a household name to sports fans, but she's truly an athletic jack of all trades. In addition to competitive cycling, she also took part in the 2012 Summer Olympics in canoeing and kayaking and has dabbled in mountain running as well.
Most impressively, she's also a practicing doctor. She put her sporting aspirations on hold in 2020 during the pandemic to work at Geneva University Hospitals.
Chris Carr: Law
Chris Carr wasn't particularly noteworthy as an NFL player, as the special teams specialist bounced around a lot, playing for six different teams during his nine-year career.
After spending the 2013 season with the New Orleans Saints, Carr announced in early 2014 that he would retire. He promptly enrolled at the George Washington University Law School and eventually graduated with a J.D. He's now a licensed attorney at Zeman and Petterson, PLLC.
Bill Bray: Finance
Bill Bray wasn't a particularly memorable ballplayer, as the pitcher struggled to maintain a spot on a major league roster. He made his debut with the Nationals in 2006 and played his final game for the Reds in 2012.
Bray halted his education to pursue baseball and, in retirement, returned to his alma mater to finish what he started. He earned an undergraduate degree in finance from William & Mary in 2015 and started working toward a law degree that same year.
Vitali Klitschko: Sports Science
Boxer Vitali Klitschko is, along with his brother Wladimir, one of the most accomplished Ukrainian athletes of all time. In addition to his championship boxing run, Klitschko has also had an active political career as a member of the Ukrainian Parliament.
Klitschko also earned a PhD in sport and physical education from Ukraine's Hryhorii Skovoroda Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi State Pedagogical University and a master's degree in social development management.
Wladimir Klitschko: Sports Science
Wladimir Klitschko is no less accomplished than Vitali Klitschko in the boxing ring, although he hasn't pursued the same kind of public life in politics as his older brother.
Like Vitali, Wladimir Klitschko also holds a PhD in sports science. His dissertation delved into balancing athletic training with physical development for young athletes. He's nicknamed "Dr. Steelhammer" (and his brother is nicknamed "Dr. Ironfist.")
