In a time when college and professional football is under intense scrutiny for its inherent violence and unethical practices by respective medical staffs, Myron Rolle may someday be at the forefront reshaping the game.
The 30-year-old former Florida State football star will soon begin a neurosurgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School as Dr. Rolle, after graduating from the Florida State University College of Medicine earlier this month.
“Been waiting on this moment since the fifth grade. To be Dr. Myron Rolle. Glad it came today! #MedSchoolGraduation#MGHNeurosurgeryNext # 2%,” Rolle posted on Instagram, with a picture of himself holding his newly earned diploma.
Rolle is one of many former and present athletes who dispel the notion that they use college only as a training ground for a path to the pros, notably basketball players who become so-called one and done athletes, spending less than a year on campus before heading to the NBA.
Rolle, who is of Bahamian descent, was born in Houston and raised in Galloway Township, N.J. He attended the exclusive Hun School in Princeton, N.J., where the 6-foot-2, 215-pound safety became the top high school football recruit in the country in 2005.
At Florida State, Rolle became of the college football’s most productive players and was named All-America and Academic All-America. Most impressively, Rolle completed his undergraduate studies in two and a half years.
After his college career, Rolle was the recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship, foregoing an immediate career in the NFL to attend Oxford University in England, where he received a Master of Science degree in medical anthropology in 2010. Rolle returned to the United States and explored a career in the NFL, as sixth-round draft choice of the Tennessee Titans.
Rolle spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons on the Titans’ roster and 2012 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But his heart was in medicine, and he left his playing career behind after the 2012 season to pursue his dream.
In 2014 in Washington D.C., Rolle eloquently and profoundly spoke before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on the subject, “Should College Athletes Be Paid?” He captivated the room in presenting the case for athletes being financially compensated and the holistic development of student-athletes as scholars, philanthropists, community activists and overall leaders. The video of his opening statement to the committee went viral.
Whether Rolle will take his talents back to the NFL or college sports as a neurosurgeon is to be determined. What is near certain is his impressive accomplishments on the field will be greatly exceeded by his achievements and impact in the field of medicine.