The NFL may appear to be all brawls and muscle. The Wonderlic Test, on the other hand, is required for all NFL prospects to assess various cognitive capacities. So bear with us as we delve into the 12 NFL players with the highest Wonderlic Scores.
“What is a Wonderlic test?” you may ask. It is similar to an IQ test developed by E. F. Wonderlic in 1936 to assess general cognitive abilities in math, vocabulary, and reasoning.
During World War II, the Navy predominantly used the test. However, in the 1970s, Tom Landry developed the Wonderlic test to evaluate players. Since then, the Wonderlic test has been a fixture in the NFL. Without further ado, here are the 12 NFL Wonderlic Players with the highest scores.
12 NFL Wonderlic Players with the Highest Scores
The following data is obtained from reliable sources such as NFL.com and Sporting News. Before we get into the player profiles, let’s have a look at the 12 NFL Wonderlic Players with the highest scores.
| Name | Position | Wonderlic Score |
| 12. Matthew Stafford | Quarterback | 38/50 |
| 11. Eli Manning | Quarterback | 39/50 |
| 10. Sean Mannion | Quarterback | 40/50 |
| 9. Alex Smith | Quarterback | 40/50 |
| 8. Carson entz | Quarterback | 40/50 |
| 7. Blaine Gabbert | Quarterback | 42/50 |
| 6. Kevin Curtis | Wide Receiver | 48/50 |
| 5. Ben Watson | Tight End | 48/50 |
| 4. Greg McElroy | Quarterback | 48/50 |
| 3. Ryan Fitzpatrick | Quarterback | 48/50 |
| 2. Mike Mamula | Defensive Linesman | 49/50 |
| 1. Pat McInally | Punter | 50/50 |
12. Matthew Stafford
Beginning our list is John Matthew Stafford, a quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams. While 20/50 is considered an average Wonderlic score, the excellent quarterback has an astounding 38 out of 50.
The Lions selected the 34-year-old as the first overall choice in 2009. Stafford will join the Rams on March 18, 2021, after spending over a decade with the Lions.
Stafford is only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season. Furthermore, he is the fastest player in NFL history to amass 30,000 throwing yards.
11. Eli Manning
Elisha Nelson Manning, also known as Eli Manning, is a retired American quarterback who played in the National Football League for 16 seasons. Manning is one of the most intellectual athletes in the NFL.
Eli has garnered numerous awards throughout his remarkable career, owing to his brain and physical abilities. The two-time Super Bowl champion has a Wonderlic Score of 39 out of 50, which is about twice as high as the typical NFL player’s performance of 20-21.
Furthermore, the Super Bowl XLII Most Valuable Player has a marketing degree and a 3.44-grade point average.
10. Sean Mannion
Sean Thomas Mannion is an American quarterback who currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings. Mannion has a Wonderlic score of 40 out of 50, which is barely over the average NFL quarterback’s Wonderlic score of 24.
Mannion attended Foothill High School in Pleasanton, California, before joining the NFL. In his debut year as a starter for the Varsity high school football team, he appeared in 12 games, scored 27 touchdowns, and passed for 3,521 yards.
On the professional front, Mannion was taken by the Rams in the third round as the 89th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Mannion, one of the most astute players on the field, enters 2022 hoping to cement his NFL credentials even further.
9. Alex Smith
Alexander Douglas Smith, born in Bremerton, Washington, is a retired American quarterback who played in the National Football League for 16 seasons.
Smith was a hardworking professional on and off the field, earning a Wonderlic score of 40 out of 50. Furthermore, the Washington native received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a 3.74 GPA.
Smith began working on his Master’s degree as well, motivated by his natural intelligence. He was, however, picked by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.
His intelligence was not confined to his studies, as the former Chiefs quarterback demonstrated on the field his acumen and rapid decision-making.
He also led the Chiefs to four postseason appearances between 2013 and 2017. Smith also has three Pro Bowl selections to his record, which adds to his illustrious career.
Furthermore, it is widely acknowledged that Alex was essential in developing Patrick Mahomes into the outstanding player he is now.
8. Carson Wentz
Carson James Wentz (Carson Wentz) is a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League. The 29-year-old received a Wonderlic score of 40 out of 50.
Furthermore, the hardworking professional has a 4.0 GPA in health and education. Wentz attended and played for North Dakota State University before entering the NFL. Wentz, a five-time NCAA FCS national championship winner, has been an excellent player from the start.
Carson, on the other hand, entered the NFL after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft. Furthermore, his selection was the highest for an FCS player in history.
In an interesting interview, the Eagles’ offensive coordinator stated that Wentz was quick off the blocks, both physically and mentally. He went on to say that Carson had an off-the-charts intelligence that few people could match.
Not to add, the North Carolina native has regularly demonstrated his exceptional football IQ and unwavering resilience on the field.
7. Blaine Gabbert
Blaine Williamson Gabbert is an American quarterback who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gabbert has an exceptional Wonderlic score of 42 out of 50, owing to his rapid decision-making and acute intellect.
Gabbert played collegiately for the University of Missouri before joining the NFL. To go back even farther, the Missouri native attended and played for the Parkway West Longhorns.
Blaine was a five-star blue-chip All-American, which sheds light on his excellence on the field. Moreover, during his high school years, he was the 14th best national player in any position.
Sharp as a knife, the 32-year-old has been one of the league’s most tireless and conscientious players.
6. Kevin Curtis
Kevin Devon Curtis, a former American football wide receiver, breaks the consecutive pattern of quarterbacks on our list. Curtis has a near-perfect Wonderlic score of 48 out of 50, earning him a near-perfect score.
Not to mention, it is the highest Wonderlic score ever recorded by a wide receiver in NFL history. Curtis finished his eight-year career with 253 catches for 3,297 yards and 20 touchdowns.
He also performed a hand-timed 40-yard sprint of 4.21 seconds. His 4.35 at the NFL Combine, on the other hand, is rated fairly average.
5. Ben Watson
Benjamin Seth Watson (Ben Watson) is a former American football tight end who played in the National Football League for 15 seasons. Watson, like Curtis, has the highest Wonderlic score for his position. Like Curtis, the former tight end has a fantastic Wonderlic score of 48 out of 50.
Watson’s NFL career began with the New England Patriots. In addition, he was picked by the Patriots in 2004. During the same year, Watson won the Super Bowl with the Patriots, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles to claim the coveted crown.
Watson played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints during his 15-year NFL career.
4. Greg McElroy
Gregory Vincent McElroy Jr. is a former American quarterback who spent three seasons in the National Football League. The former quarterback is now a football commentator and is one of the most well-known figures on the circuit.
McElroy, a popular draft pick, has an impressive Wonderlic score of 48 out of 50. Greg completed his Master’s and undergraduate degrees within three years of enrolling at the University of Alabama.
Greg, on the other hand, only appeared in two games during his whole NFL career. However, the former collegiate star now presents a sports talk show on the SEC Network called Thinking Out Loud.
3. Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Joseph Fitzpatrick, who plays for the Washington Football Team, moves into the top three. Fitzpatrick, is the highest-scoring current player on our list, with a Wonderlic score of 48 out of 50.
Furthermore, the 39-year-old holds a degree in Economics from Harvard University. Fitzpatrick was also voted Ivy League Player of the Year in 2004 during his collegiate career.
Ryan has spent 14 seasons in the NFL, playing for seven different clubs. Because of his inconsistency in the league, the former Dolphins quarterback has earned the nicknames “Fitzmagic” and “Fitztragic.”
2. Mike Mamula
Michael Brian Mamula, born August 14, 1973, is a retired American defensive lineman who played in the NFL for five seasons. Mamula had an outstanding performance in the NFL Combine in 1995. Following his outstanding performance, he was selected seventh overall by Boston College.
However, Mamula’s NFL career did not go as long as predicted, as he only played for five years.
1. Patrick McInally
John Patrick McInally, also known as Pat McInally, is a former NFL punter who played for ten seasons. MacInally has the highest NFL Wonderlic score of 50 out of 50, making him the only NFL athlete in the world with a perfect Wonderlic score.
Before joining the NFL, McInally attended Harvard University, where he garnered various awards in addition to his Laude honors. Pat was a two-time All-Ivy League first-team football selection during his tenure at Harvard.
Furthermore, his contributions were critical in bringing Harvard to the Ivy League championship in 1974. In 1981, McInally was the first Harvard graduate to play in either the NFL Pro Bowl or the Super Bowl.
McInally was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016 for his outstanding collegiate career. In the NFL, the former punter played his whole career with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Conclusion
Any player’s success is not determined by a single factor. Even in a league like the NFL, where muscle-heavy athletes tend to dominate, a balance between brawl and wits is required to attain perfect harmony.
While it is true that not all of the athletes described above had illustrious careers, their acute brains and inventive ideas enabled them to achieve so much more.
And with that, we conclude our discussion of the 12 NFL players with the highest Wonderlic scores.
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