John Urschel, a former athlete with the Baltimore Ravens, has embarked on a remarkable career transition that has seen him pivot from the football field to the hallowed halls of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Urschel, who retired from the NFL at the age of 26, is now a distinguished math professor at MIT.
During his time in the NFL, Urschel was not only a force on the field but also an academic powerhouse. He pursued a Ph.D. in mathematics at MIT, a lesser-known fact among his teammates and colleagues. What’s even more astounding is that he managed to publish six academic papers while balancing the demands of professional football.
In 2017, at just 25 years old, Urschel earned a coveted spot-on Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the field of mathematics. His unwavering commitment to both football and mathematics was nothing short of remarkable.
“I felt actually kind of guilty,” Urschel told Sports Illustrated. “I was actually kind of ashamed of myself. I was doing math while playing, but I always prided myself on doing what I wanted to do and not budging on things.”
After three successful seasons in the NFL, Urschel decided to retire in 2017, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to his passion for advanced theoretical mathematics. In 2021, he completed his Ph.D. at MIT, specializing in matrix analysis and computations, with a strong focus on theoretical applications in real-world scenarios.
Now, Urschel has taken on a new role as one of the 16 esteemed faculty members at MIT’s School of Science, starting in the Fall semester of 2023. His faculty bio page highlights his interests in numerical linear algebra, spectral graph theory, and various facets of theoretical machine learning.
Beyond his academic pursuits, Urschel is also dedicated to increasing diversity in the field of mathematics, where only a meager seven percent of professors are Black.
He aspires to inspire young Black students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, leaving an indelible mark on both academia and the world of sports.
SOURCE: blacknews.com