Ranking the Smartest Athletes In Sports Today

While some fans may not think so, a majority of professional athletes are incredibly smart and studious individuals. Nevertheless, some certainly stand out from the crowd, and these are the 15 smartest athletes in the world today.
15. Craig Breslow

15. Craig Breslow

Breslow played baseball at Yale University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biophysics and biochemistry. He then deferred attending the New York University School of Medicine to play professional baseball. Suffice to say, the guy is pretty smart.
14. Tim Duncan

14. Tim Duncan

Duncan received a degree in psychology from Wake Forest, and his smarts translate perfectly onto the floor, as the San Antonio Spurs forward often looks like a surgeon with a ball in his hands.
13. David Price

13. David Price

Price attended the prestigious Vanderbilt University for three years, and he is generally regarded as being one of the most studious pitchers in MLB today.
12. Juan Mata

12. Juan Mata

Mata isn't a physical behemoth on the soccer field, but the Manchester United midfielder makes up for this deficiency with incredible smarts on and off the ball.
11. Steve Nash

11. Steve Nash

Nash attended Santa Clara University, and the guy has confirmed a reputation as being incredibly smart through a number of savvy personal and philanthropic investments.
10. Dominic Moore

10. Dominic Moore

Moore has a degree in sociology from Harvard University, and the New York Rangers center is regarded by many people as the smartest player in the NHL.
9. Myron Rolle

9. Myron Rolle

Rolle received a degree in exercise science from Florida State University in just two and a half years, and he further exposed his smarts by delaying his NFL career for one year in order to study at Oxford University on a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
8. Kobe Bryant

8. Kobe Bryant

Bryant has navigated his way from 18-year-old draftee to NBA legend through internal fortitude and even more through being an absolute genius. The "Black Mamba" is an avid reader, and he likely could have been successful in any field if he wanted to be.
7. Chris Young

7. Chris Young

Young has a degree in political science from Princeton University, and it would not be surprising to see the Seattle Mariners pitcher become a politician in the future.
6. Andrew Luck

6. Andrew Luck

Luck has a degree in architectural design from Stanford University, and there is no doubting that the Indianapolis Colts quarterback has one of the smartest football minds in NFL history.
5. Alex Morgan

5. Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan has a degree in political economy from the University of California, Berkeley, and the USWNT has shown off great smarts both in public appearances and on the soccer field since graduating.
4. Pau Gasol

4. Pau Gasol

Gasol has shown a very public interest in medicine, and he can also boast being multilingual and an avid reader. The Spaniard may not be especially vocal in the public sphere, but don't doubt the fact that he is incredibly smart.
3. Jeremy Lin

3. Jeremy Lin

Lin has a degree in economics from Harvard University, and he has also been voted one of the smartest athletes in sports by his peers on multiple occasions.
2. George Parros

2. George Parros

Parros may have made a living as a fighter in the NHL, but the guy has the smarts to multiply his earnings in retirement. Parros has a degree in economics from Princeton University, which should only affirm his status as a very smart guy.
1. Peyton Manning

1. Peyton Manning

Manning received a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication from the University of Tennessee in only three years, and the Denver Broncos quarterback is arguably the most studious player in NFL history. Suffice to say, anybody who questions Manning's mental aptitude is making a grave mistake.