John Urschel

John Urschel is an author, mathematician, football player, and public speaker. He is known for his unique combination of athletic and academic pursuits, having played NCAA Division 1 football for Penn State and then obtaining a master’s degree from MIT all while writing papers for top publications such as SIAM, The Mathematical Intelligencer and The Washington Post. Urschel is a rising star and currently works as a NFL offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, while also teaching mathematics at Pennsylvania’s Westminster College.

John Urschel was born in Buffalo, New York, on June 24, 1991. He was a child prodigy that showed superior aptitude in mathematics and science at an early age, being named a National Scholar in Mathematics by the American State and Canadian Provincial boards in seventh grade. Urschel also excelled in sports, playing strategy-based games such as chess and basketball. Combined with his mathematical prowess and other athletic gifts, Urschel was highly sought after in the recruiting process for college and eventually chose to attend Penn State in the fall of 2011, where he was already earning a degree in mathematics with a focus on algebraic topology.

During his time at Penn State, Urschel developed a passion for portraying mathematics in a more visual and accessible way. He sought to create and publish a book exploring the intersection of topology, geometry and abstract algebra and eventually produced the book titled “Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football”. The book seeks to reveal the powerful connections between the two fields but also explore John’s dual life as both an athlete and a mathematician.

In 2015, Urschel graduated from Penn State with honors and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens during the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He managed to attend to both his academic and professional career playing football in the NFL while also working on his master's in mathematics with a focus on spectral graph theory. His master's research focused on combinatorial optimization and stability, two areas of mathematics that interested him since childhood.

After retiring from the NFL in 2017, Urschel returned to academics, now teaching mathematics at Pennsylvania’s Westminster College. In 2020, he wrote and published his second book, “Seeing in The Dark: A Memoir of Science, Faith and Seeing Beyond”. It explores his own experiences in life and how mathematics, science, and faith have served to shape his life. He also worked to make the book an accessible entry point for readers to understand the powerful concepts in mathematics and science.

John Urschel’s life is a shining example of dedication, hard work, and determination. His pursuits of academic success have spanned cultures and lifestyles, and his affect on the lives of others is a testament to the potential of pursuing one's passions. As a man of science, football player and gifted author, John Urschel is a prominent figure in both the stadium and the lecture hall.