Although it is not always considered when searching for new players in the NFL, intelligence is measured by the players with the Wonderlic Test, a test that involves 50 questions to help better gauge the NFL players’ intelligence throughout the entire organization. According to statistics, players with the highest Wonderlic test scores are more likely to land a position in the starting lineup, regardless of their experience and the team they are playing on. In total, there are 53 players that each NFL team can have on its roster in addition to a 5-player practice squad. There is a total of 32 teams in the NFL , making a total of 1,696 players who are currently in the NFL themselves.

In 2013, Blaine Gabbert scored a 42 on the Wonderlic test scale, giving him the top score throughout the entire NFL roster that was tested. The runner-ups for the Wonderlic test includes Alex Smith, Eli Manning, Matt Flynn, Colin Kaepernick, Matt Stafford, Andrew Luck and Tony Romo.

The test tool itself was created and developed in 1937 to help with quantifying the mental abilities of potential candidates who were most suitable for a job. More than 2.5 million applicants in different companies took part of the Wonderlic test during its introduction and an interview process. In the 1970’s, the Dallas Cowboys were the first to take the Wonderlic test in professional sports and the NFL.

The average Wonderlic score for offensive tackle individuals is 26, with the center positions earning an average of 25. Quarterbacks within the NFL score an average of 24 with the Wonderlic test. The lowest average within the NFL comes from the halfbacks, with an average score of 16. In 2012, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots were considered the smartest teams in football. The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears and NY Giants followed in place with the smartest players according to the Wonderlic test as well as efficient in terms of yards. The dumbest teams in 2012 include the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL. The Wonderlic test scale is an ideal method of testing intelligence in any group of individuals.

Source: BestMastersDegrees.com

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