When Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman John Urschel retired from the NFL July 27, he posted on Twitter that it “wasn’t an easy decision, but I believe it was the right one for me.”
According to a story in The Washington Post, Urschel already had plans for his second career. A doctoral candidate in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Urschel has nine published or accepted research papers to his name, according to the school’s magazine, MIT Technology Review.
Urschel isn’t the only NFL player to retire to focus on academia. On July 25, Andrew Hawkins, who had signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots, ended his career, as well. Hawkins, who earned his master’s degree from Columbia University, said he plans to pursue his doctorate in business and economics.