October 10th 2023.
John Urschel is an inspirational example of how you can make a remarkable career pivot. At the age of 26, Urschel retired from his NFL career as a Baltimore Ravens player, and went on to pursue his Ph.D. in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Amazingly, he managed to publish six academic papers while playing in the NFL, an impressive feat of dedication and commitment. In 2017, he was even featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for his standout work in mathematics.
Despite the demands of playing in the NFL and his academic pursuits, Urschel managed to balance the two. “I felt actually kind of guilty,” he 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 NFL seasons, Urschel retired and went on to complete his Ph.D. in 2021. His research focused on matrix analysis and computations, with a strong emphasis on theoretical applications for real-world situations.
In the Fall 2023 semester, Urschel was hired as one of MIT’s 16 new faculty members. His faculty bio page mentions his interests in numerical linear algebra, spectral graph theory, and certain aspects of theoretical machine learning.
Urschel is also passionate about increasing diversity in the field of mathematics. According to reports, he aspires to inspire young Black students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With his remarkable career pivot, Urschel is a great example of how anyone can pursue their dreams.
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