Top NFL Players and Their College Degrees

With the Super Bowl XLVI this weekend, several of us here at MyEdu started thinking about the degrees that NFL players hold. Even when they were out on the field in college, vying for a pick in the draft, they also had to hunker down over a book and write papers. You've cheered them on during your Fantasy Football season, memorized their stats, but we bet you don't know what they studied! See if you share a major with your favorite NFL player below.

Tom Brady (QB), #12 for the New England Patriots -- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

At the top of the NFL’s Top 100 of 2011 list and a player in this year's Super Bowl, Tom focused his time off the field on a degree in Organizational Studies. This choice has no doubt led to some amazing plays and it's evident that his studies have been put to good use.

Troy Polamalu (S), #43 for the Pittsburgh Steelers – University of Southern California

Although he left school in 2003 after being drafted during his senior year at USC,Troy used his time during the lockout to finish his degree in history last May. Polamalu penned his thoughts the morning of his graduation on his website.  

I truly love football and it’s such an immense blessing and privilege as an athlete to be given the rare opportunity to use those talents at the highest professional level, but it’s certainly not a replacement for an education. So I decided to finish what I started and walked that stage today not only because it was very important to me personally, but because I want to emphasize the importance of education, and that nothing should supersede it.

Ray Lewis (LB), #52 for the Baltimore Ravens -- University of Maryland University College

After leaving the University of Miami during his junior year, Ray had promised his mother he would finish his degree. He continued his studies by enrolling at UMUC in 2001 and made the dean’s list in Spring 2002 before graduating with a focus on management studies in May of 2004.

Peyton Manning (QB), #18 for the Indianapolis Colts – University of Tennessee

Even though Peyton was named SEC Freshman-of-the-Year in 1994, he maintained a high personal standard in his education throughout college and graduated cum laude with a 3.61 GPA. As runner-up to Tom Brady on the NFL’s Top 100 of 2011, this Speech Communication major’s bio is packed with accomplishments.

Drew Brees (QB), #9 for the New Orleans Saints – Purdue University

As number nine on NFL’s top 100 of 2011, he earned the Academic All-America Player of the Year as a senior. Drew attended high school just a few miles from the MyEdu headquarters and went on to play for Purdue where he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management with a 3.4 GPA.

Phillip Rivers (QB), #17 for the San Diego Chargers – North Carolina State

Even before heading off to college, Phillip already claimed the Alabama Player of the Year title, which he earned during his senior year in high school. Even while maintaining a 3.0 GPA during his freshman year, Phillp was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and later graduated with a degree in business.

Did you share a major with your favorite player? Let us know below!

Comments

[Jian | Custom Stickers Printing]

I have always been a big fan of Tom Brady. I have high respect for athletes who value education.

[jersey fanatics]

Tom Brady has had tremendous Super Bowl success,but also the human.