John Urschel

John Urschel is recognized for his achievements at the intersection of professional football and advanced mathematics. Urschel played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. While at Penn State, he received the Campbell Trophy, known as the Academic Heisman, and the Sullivan Award, presented to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Urschel earned a 4.0 GPA in both of his degree programs and was honored with several awards for his academic and athletic performance. He also taught two mathematics courses while serving as a starter on the football team.

During his NFL career, Urschel pursued a Ph.D. in mathematics at MIT, focusing on spectral graph theory, numerical linear algebra, and machine learning. MIT requires Ph.D. students to study full-time; Urschel managed his coursework remotely, balancing his academic responsibilities with his professional football schedule. Despite limited in-person attendance, he completed his courses with high marks. Urschel was named to Forbes' "30 Under 30" list of outstanding young scientists, recognized for publishing multiple peer-reviewed mathematics papers and receiving academic awards while playing for the Ravens.

Urschel retired from the NFL after three seasons, with reports indicating that research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in football players influenced his decision. He has discussed his retirement as a commitment to his passion for mathematics. Urschel completed his Ph.D. thesis on "Graphs, Principal Minors, and Eigenvalue Problems" under Michel Goemans at MIT. His work earned him the SIAM DiPrima Prize and the SIAM Early Career Prize in Linear Algebra. Urschel holds the Class of 1956 Career Development Assistant Professorship in the MIT Math department, where his research focuses on matrix analysis, numerical analysis, and theoretical guarantees for practical problems in applied mathematics.

Urschel has worked to make mathematics accessible and engaging to a broader audience. He published the New York Times-bestselling memoir "Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football," co-written with journalist and historian Louisa Thomas, which explores his experiences balancing football and mathematics. Urschel serves as the Menezes Challenge Lecturer for MathROOTS, a summer program hosted by MIT Math for high-potential high school students from underserved communities. He chairs the selection committee for the Mathical Book Prize, an annual award for books that inspire children to see math in the world around them. Urschel also serves on the board of trustees at the National Museum of Mathematics and has been a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee. His career highlights the connection between athletics, mathematics, and STEM education.