Pat McInally is a former American football player who played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1976 to 1985. He was a punter and a wide receiver, and he also played on special teams. But what makes him stand out from other NFL players is his remarkable achievement on the Wonderlic test, a 12-minute, 50-question exam that measures cognitive ability and problem-solving skills.
McInally is the only player in NFL history to score a perfect 50 on the Wonderlic test, which he took before the 1975 draft. He was a Harvard graduate with a degree in American history and literature, and he had a knack for solving puzzles and trivia questions. He said he did not prepare for the test, and he did not think it was a big deal at the time.
“I just thought it was kind of fun,” he said. “I didn’t know it was going to be such a big thing.”
The Wonderlic test has been used by NFL teams since the 1970s to evaluate the intelligence and problem-solving skills of potential draft picks. The average score for NFL players is around 20, which is equivalent to an IQ of 100. The average score for quarterbacks is 24, and the average score for punters is 22.
Some of the other players who scored high on the Wonderlic test are Ryan Fitzpatrick (48), Benjamin Watson (48), Mike Mamula (49), and Kevin Curtis (48). Fitzpatrick, who is currently playing for the Miami Dolphins, said he thinks the test is a good indicator of how quickly one can process information.
“It’s not necessarily a measure of your intelligence, but it’s a measure of how fast you can think on your feet,” he said.
Watson, who retired from the New England Patriots in 2020, said he does not take any pride in his high score.
“I think it’s kind of silly that they even administer it at the combine,” he said.
The Wonderlic test has been criticized for its validity, reliability, and relevance to football performance. Some studies have found no correlation between Wonderlic scores and NFL success. Some players have scored low on the test but excelled on the field, such as Frank Gore (6), Dan Marino (16), and Terry Bradshaw (16). Gore, who played for the San Francisco 49ers, said he did not understand the purpose of the test.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with football,” he said. “It’s just a bunch of random questions that don’t make any sense.”
McInally took the test again in 2007 when he was hired by Wonderlic to market the exam. He missed one question, which he attributed to his age and his six concussions from playing football.
“Not a bad score after six concussions,” he joked.
McInally said he does not think the test is very important for football players, but he does think it is useful for other professions that require critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
“I think it’s a great test for teachers, lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s very relevant for football.”
Relevant articles:
– Pat McInally – Wikipedia, Wikipedia, N/A
– Wonderlic scores in the NFL: Highest, lowest test scores in Combine history, Sporting News, September 23, 2023
– 12 Players with the Highest NFL Wonderlic Scores [Update], Players Bio, September 30, 2023
– Highest Wonderlic Scores In NFL History, The Football USA, April 28, 2023