© David Bergman / Corbis
If book smarts translated to field sense , NFL coaches would be desperately recruiting mathletes . But a surge SAT score is the last thing you need to excel on the gridiron .
According to Jonah Lehrer , generator of the 2009 bestsellerHow We Decide , “ The velocity of the plot hold thought unimaginable . ” or else of cerebration , athletes rely on fast - twitch intuition , clear from countless hours of breeding . They take to build instinct .
Yet , every class , cub in the NFL take the Wonderlic psychometric test before they record the conference . The 12 - minute IQ test dates back to World War II , when the administration used it to select candidate for original training . Then , in the 1970s , coach Tom Landry co - opted the Wonderlic to help oneself him find next Dallas Cowboys . Before long , the trial became synonymous with football . young version of the iconic Madden video game even come charge with a souped - up exam .
Still , mental testing results of NFL champion seldom correspond with their quarterback ratings . Terry Bradshaw ( Wonderlic Score : 15 ) may never be a finalist for a MacArthur Fellowship , but that did n’t stop him from winning four Super Bowls and serving as a TV football analyst for most 30 eld .
So why does the NFL use the test ? Some speculate that a gloomy account gives team possessor an excuse if they require to bail on a high-pitched - earnings histrion . Others think the examination is just good branding — after all , other pro leagues do n’t test for IQ . In 2005,The Wall Street Journalpicked the three team with the highest Wonderlic scores , dub them “ Team Protractor , ” then monitor their season . They break down a drab 14 - 34 .
While the Wonderlic test is a major part of the NFL ’s recruitment process , the Wonderlic Corporation is uneasy reciprocating . After all , the ship’s company tagline is “ pinpointing accuracy . ” If Team Protractor was any mensuration , they may involve a newfangled angle .
As for the Mannings , not only has Eli come through more Super Bowls , hereportedlyoutscored Peyton on the Wonderlic 39 to 28 .
This article appear in the September / October 2011 issue of mental_floss magazine .
