This NFL quarterback was known for his time with the San Diego Chargers and ended up in the Football Hall of Fame. Before that, though, he spent his high school

years in private schools and then moved on to the University of Oregon and his professional career. 

NBA player Steve Nash got his start playing in high school. When his grades began to drop, he was enrolled in private school before being awarded a scholarship to the University

of Santa Clara.

Pitcher Mike Marshall attended the University of Michigan, where he eventually received a PhD and was famous for his screwball pitch. 

In addition to having an MLB career as a world-class pitcher, Darling attended Yale University and got a degree known as "American Studies." Kind of vague, but still Yale-y. 

Hailing from Spain, Gasol is an NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs. Growing up with parents in the medical field, he had an interest in surgical studies. He also can

speak multiple languages. 

Former NBA star Shane Battier got his start by attending Duke University, where he got a four year degree before segueing into a professional basketball career. 

Maddux was so well known for his ability to strategize and hypothesize what opposing teams would do that he earned two nicknames: Mad Dog and The Professor.

Wiley came into the NFL straight out of a career at Columbia University. Before going pro, he earned a 4-year degree in sociology.

Despite a promising NFL career, he ended up pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor. He is currently a surgical resident at Harvard University.

An Olympic gymnast, Caslavska is known for her quiet protests against the Soviet Union. This led to her being forced out of her sport before the fall of the Soviet Union

in the '80s. 

Not only was he a professional MLB player, Breslow attended Yale University, where he DOUBLE MAJORED in molecular biophysics and biochemistry.

Before becoming a pro NBA player, Okafor attended the University of Connecticut, where he graduated a year early with honors and a 3.8 GPA.

NBA player Lin got into Harvard completely on academic merit, since he did not qualify for a sport scholarship of any sort. 

Brady has been involved in politics in some form or another for most of his professional NFL career. While he has denied it in recent years, he has previously voiced

an ambition to become a senator. 

NFL pro Manning is known for having an impeccable memory, being able to memorize a playbook within a week of receiving it.

NBA pro David Robinson was known as "The Officer" due to his prior time in the Army. He has gone on to start a private equity firm. 

Former hockey pro Wayne Gretzky is well known for his ability to analyze situations and figure out what will be happening next, such as where the hockey puck will go.

He's considered the smartest player to date.

Despite only being offered scholarships at 2 colleges, Brees chose to attend the one with higher academic ratings—which just so happened to be Purdue.

Former golf pro Sörenstam turned retirement into an accomplished entrepreneurial career. She is well known for starting a golf academy as well as many other business ventures. 

Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Dana Vollmer went to college at the University of California, Berkley, considered one of the West Coast "Ivies."

Not only is he considered one of the best players in NBA history, Hill happens to have a double major in history and political science from Duke University.

Former Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan has gone on to get a graduate degree from Tufts University and work as a US diplomatic envoy.

Bradley started off as a basketball pro and eventually moved into politics. He has three terms as a US senator under his belt. 

Olympic gymnast Carolina Klüft attends Linnaeus University and spends her time outside the gym volunteering.

NFL pro Ryan Fitzpatrick attended Harvard before he went pro.  He studied math for his undergraduate degree.

Radcliffe, a long distance runner, went to  Loughborough University, where she studied French, German and economics.

Kajsa Bergqvist is an Olympic gold medal-winning high jumper. Shen went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas and pursued a career at UNICEF after retiring. 

Max Schmeling was a German heavyweight boxing champ who was thought to be a "Nazi puppet" during WWII. However, it was later revealed that he actually saved the lives of

Jewish children during the Nazi purge of Berlin by hiding them in his apartment. He went on to have an advertising career. 

NFL player Matt Birk got off to a strong start: he attended Harvard and got a degree in economics.

Olympic snowboarder Tanja Frieden can speak three different languages and, when not out snowboarding, spends her time as a teacher. 

Franklin is a gold medal-winning Olympic swimmer. She is currently attending Berkeley and pursuing a major in psychology and a minor in education. 

Suzy Favor Hamilton is an Olympic gold medal-winning middle distance runner. She attended the University of Wisconsin and, after a battle with her own mental health disorders, has gone on

to have an online coaching business. 

Julianne McNamara is a former gymnast who competed in the Olympics. She transitioned into an acting career and also did commentary for televised gymnastics. 

Ellen van Dijk is a road racing cyclist who has competed in the Olympics. She has since gone on to start pursuing a Master's degree. 

Natalie Coughlin is a swimmer who competed in the Olympics. She attended Berkeley and graduated in 2005 with a degree in psychology. 

NBA pro Tim Duncan actually started off as a swimmer but transitioned to basketball after a hurricane destroyed his school's pool. He has a psychology degree and founded a foundation for

health awareness. 

John McEnroe is a retired tennis player who attended the highly competitive Trinity School in New York. 

Maggie Vessey is a pro middle distance runner. She went to California Polytechnic State University, a competitive West Coast college, for her undergraduate degree.

NFL pro Alex Smith blew through college in Utah, managing to earn a bachelor's degree in just 2 years, while maintaining a 3.74 GPA.

Golfer Inbee Park is an Olympic Gold Medalist. She graduated high school at 17 and started college in Las Vegas. However, she has put off finishing her degree to pursue

a professional golfing career. 

A retired skier, Bjørn Dæhlie has gone on to thrive in business. He is also an inventor. 

Christine Theiss is a professional kickboxing champion. She studied medicine in Germany at the Ludwig-Maximilians University and has received her doctorate degree. 

Meredith Kessler is a professional triathlete who has competed in numerous Ironman competitions. She graduated from Syracuse University with a double major in nutrition and hospitality management. 

George Foreman was a professional heavyweight boxing champion. However, he is perhaps even more famous for the grills that bear his name, from which he has made an immense fortune. 

Professional NBA player Dirk Nowitzkiis is known for being an avid reader and saxophone player. 

Ross Ohlendorf is a free agent pitcher who attended Princeton University. He managed a double major in Operations Research and Financial Engineering.

Retired basketball player Matt Bonner is known as the Red Mamba (for obvious reasons). He went to the University of Florida and walked away with high honors, a 3.96 GPA,

and a degree in business administration. 

Alan Page is a retired football player. He has a Bachelor's Degree from Notre Dame in political science and has gone on to be a jurist.