Wonderlic test
The Wonderlic Personnel Test (often referred to as Wunderlich) is an intelligence test primarily known for being administered to prospective players in the National Football League since the 1970s. The Wonderlic is a twelve minute, fifty question exam to assess aptitude for learning a job and adapting to solve problems for employees in a wide range of occupations. The score is calculated as the number of correct answers given in the alloted time. A score of 20 is intended to indicate average intelligence (corresponding to an intelligence quotient of 100). It is rumored that at least one player has scored a 1 on the test.
Famous scores
Pat McInally, a wide receiver/punter from Harvard who played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1977 to 1985, is the only player known to have scored a perfect 50. In 2005, it was rumored that Ryan Fitzpatrick, a quarterback also from Harvard, scored a perfect 50 but his actual accomplishment was to finish the test in 9 minutes with a score of 38 — the most impressive speed ever seen at the NFL combine. Fitzpatrick was drafted in 2005 by the St. Louis Rams — referenced in The Wall Street Journal (September 30, 2005) as the NFL's Smartest Team.
Some rumoured, but unconfirmed, scores of other NFL players and draft candidates:
- Pat McInally, punter — 50
- Kevin Curtis, wide receiver — 48
- Alex Smith, quarterback — 40
- Brian Griese, quarterback — 39
- Eli Manning, quarterback — 39
- Akili Smith, quarterback — 37 (suspected of cheating; scored 15 on first attempt)
- Matt Leinart, quarterback — 35
- Tom Brady, quarterback — 33
- Steve Young, quarterback — 33
- John Elway, quarterback — 30
- Mike Mamula, defensive end — 49
- Peyton Manning, quarterback — 28
- Troy Aikman, quarterback — 29
- Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback — 25
- David Carr, quarterback — 24
- Brett Favre, quarterback — 22
- Michael Vick, quarterback — 20
- Vinny Testaverde, quarterback — 18
- Antwaan Randle El, wide receiver (former college quarterback) — 17
- Dan Marino, quarterback — 16
- Randall Cunningham, quarterback — 15
- Jeff George, quarterback — 10
- Vince Young, quarterback — 1
Average scores
This assessment roughly corresponds to the averages revealed, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, by an NFL personnel man in Paul Zimmerman's "The New Thinking man's Guide to Pro Football," which are:
- Offensive tackles: 26
- Centers: 25
- Quarterbacks: 24
- Guards: 23
- Tight Ends: 22
- Safeties: 19
- Middle linebackers: 19
- Cornerbacks: 18
- Wide receivers: 17
- Fullbacks: 17
- Halfbacks: 16
The average scores in other professions are:
- Chemist: 31
- Programmer: 29
- Newswriter: 26
- Sales: 24
- Bank teller: 22
- Clerical Worker: 21
- Security Guard: 17