Intelligence is a highly sought-after quality. Especially In the wake of 2016 US elections, many Americans are depressed and questioning our collective intelligence. Trump-Hillary candidacy blunder aside, you can find smart people everywhere, even in places you least expect.

Sports is not associated with intelligence a lot, and in the cases of some players and sports that is a correct assumption. Especially when people are watching football, they think the players are all muscle but no brains. That cannot be farther from the truth. Most of these players are very intelligent. They have excellent education and some of these players spend more time studying than playing football. Don’t judge a book by its cover they say.

Behind these beefy stars who brutally complete, there are intelligent minds. Some NFL players are so smart that they would’ve done well in complex sciences such as Physics and Mathematics.

Football isn’t all about muscling through. You need planning, you need strategies, and you have to do paperwork. Football is an intelligent sport. Intelligence is the most underrated qualities these days. Kids love athletes who are good at their respective sport. Rarely do intelligent athletes get credit for being smart.

Therefore let’s end their misery and recognize them for who they are.

Here is a list of 20 NFL players that are extraordinarily smart with exceedingly high IQs.

20. Rosey Grier

Rosey Grier was an accomplished player in his time. He played for two separate teams; LA Rams and Giants over the course of seven years. He played alongside players like Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy, Deacon Jones and Frank Gifford. Football was not the only thing he was good at. Grier is also known as an artist, musician, author, actor, manager, ordained minister and motivational speaker – damn!

Grier was as active off the field as he was on it. He passionately participated in local, state and national politics. He was Bobby Kennedy’s personal bodyguard throughout his 1968 presidential campaign. He was later appointed on board of trustees for a non-profit education foundation.