Who gives up a million dollar job as an NFL player for medical school? Myron Rolle
The former Rhodes Scholar who played for Florida State University, moved on to play in the NFL. He gave up the NFL career to pursue a medical degree. He will begin classes in a few months. Rolle wasn’t a star in the NFL. He was drafted by the Titans in 2010 in the sixth round; played for them and for the Pittsburg Steelers until his release in 2012.
“I’m leaving the game with my hands fully healthy and functional. I have no concussions so maybe I can be a great doctor for a long time,” Rolle told CBS during an interview. “That’s a blessing.”
Rolle is the third man who came to the NFL to receive a Rhodes Scholarship and play professional football. Byron White, a former Supreme Court justice, and Pat Haden, currently the athletic director at USC, are listed as previous two.
“My advice to a lot of players that are going to get drafted is save your money, live responsibly,” said Rolle. “Hire good advisers, and trust them. Take care of your bodies as much as possible.
Many thought Rolle would be selected in the first few rounds of the 2009 NFL draft. But when Rolle was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship his senior season at Florida State, he decided to take a year off from football and study at Oxford.
He entered the 2010 NFL draft and was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the last pick of the sixth round. Rolle was released by the Titans after the 2011 season, picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers and then released after the 2012 preseason.
