Living with dyslexia means a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that shapes how distinctly a person reads, writes, and even spells, making learning difficult like a never-ending puzzle, despite remarkable creativity and intelligence. While the brain struggles to link to the sound of spoken words, it is quite similar to decoding hidden languages, which not only affects the natural reading flow but also makes the process of absorbing information perplexing, especially for children and teens who spend hours to excel academically.
Dyslexia symptoms can vary with brain development and age. Although dealing with it can come with a fair share of limitations, countless individuals have pushed past this obstacle with willpower and resilience, including notable NFL players, who refused to let it become a stumbling block and went on to accomplish incredible milestones on the gridiron.
5) Frank Gore
The former San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore had a Hall of Fame-worthy career in the NFL, which lasted 16 seasons and included five Pro-Bowls — all with the Niners. Looking at everything he has achieved in the field, it is difficult to picture that a 43-year-old dealt with dyslexia along the way.
Due to his early academic struggles, he was once called “unteachable’ in school, but his relentless commitment and the resilience to improve alongside his love for football, he thrived against the odds both on and off the field. When he studied at the Coral Gables High School, he reportedly had the reading ability of a third or fourth grade level due to his dyslexia. During his early school days, Frank was enrolled in an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program, which was designed for students with learning disabilities and would have made him a special diploma holder, making him ineligible to compete with NCAA athletes.
But seeing his drive to do better, his high school coach eventually suggested that he join regular classes. After spending hours on studies alongside a specialized tutor fo him, he significantly honed his reading and comprehension abilities, overcoming the hurdle of dyslexia. Due to his condition, the former Niners star scored only 6 out of 50 in the Wonderlic Personnel Test before the 2005 NFL Draft, which was mandatory for new players. However, Frank silenced the doubters with his impressive football IQ and superior understanding of the game in the field, which was the secret behind his legendary career.
4) Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary was a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. After spending seven years with the Green Bay Packers, he has recently signed with the Dallas Cowboys. The 2024 Pro-Bowler remains a notable defensive end in the league, but he has overcome dyslexia to reach this pinnacle of his football career.
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Studying in the seventh grade, Gary was first diagnosed with dyslexia, and he was only 12 at that time. During his schooling in Paramus, New Jersey, he was bullied for a learning disability before the official diagnosis. After understanding his condition, he learned how to use his unique ability to process information to his advantage.
“Having dyslexia means I go above and beyond in whatever I put my mind to,” said Gary about his neurodevelopmental condition.
Being one of the noteworthy active NFL players with dyslexia, he is currently the brand ambassador of a global charity like Made By Dyslexia. Each season, Rashan Gary uses his platform and brings attention to dyslexia awareness by wearing specially crafted cleats for the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative.
3) Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow was a Heisman Trophy winner and a first-round pick from the 2010 NFL Draft. Even though he never climbed the superstar level many had expected, he went on to have a respectable career on the gridiron, especially with the Denver Broncos. He battled his way to reach the NFL standard in football, refusing to let dyslexia define him despite an early diagnosis.
Tim was first diagnosed with the condition in the seventh grade. After earning his recognition through football, he has been open about his journey, adapting to it to excel athletically.
“It’s not a disability, it is a difference. It’s not a weakness, it is uniqueness,” said Tim Tebow about his dyslexia in an interview with Today in November 2025. “I really, truly, with my whole heart, believe that.”
Due to the condition, he faced several challenges in football. For example, he could not adeptly read the football playbook. He needed to touch and feel to understand plays, whereas he memorized information through flashcards. It, however, did not stop him from securing good grades in college.
After being rejected for extra time during his tests, he earned a 3.7 GPA at the University of Florida. What once felt like a challenge turned into his advantage, as it sharpened his problem-solving ability, helping him shine in the community sciences. As he has closed his chapter with the NFL, the 38-year-old now travels around the country, teaching adults and children about neurodiversity and reminding them how it can be a powerful tool instead.
“You can be extremely bright and still have dyslexia. You just have to understand how you learn.” was Tim’s message for the community, which he said during the same interview with Today.
2) Peyton Barber
Peyton Barber started his NFL career in 2016, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before suiting up for the Washington Commanders and the Las Vegas Raiders. The 31-year-old is still an active player, but he currently remains a free agent. While he has had a respectable career in the big league, dyslexia has always been part of his football journey.
Besides dyslexia, he is one of the notable NFL players to deal with ADHD, which he found out in middle school. However, diagnosing his dyslexia took him a few more years when he was playing football at Auburn University. Instead of seeing it as a roadblock, he viewed it as a different learning style, helping him understand football from a different perspective.
Like Tim Tebow, Barber had struggles with the football playbooks. Compared to average players, he took more time to accurately remember each play on the field. As a result, he mastered the technique of remembering plays through rigorous repetition. As with most people with the condition, it affected him academically, as he occasionally mixed up words and letters while reading.
Despite the inevitable challenges, Barber relied on academic support systems and tutors, securing three SEC Academic Honor Roll selections at Auburn. In high school, he was blatantly told that he was not good enought to attend the regular classes, but he defied the odds to complete his college degree, besides having accolades on the football field.
1) Alex Green
Alex Green had a three-year NFL career in the early 2010s, playing for the Green Bay Packers initially before switching to the New York Jets the next season. Even though the running back had a short career at the professional level, his experience of living with dyslexia played a role in raising awareness about the condition in the football community.
For the major part of his life, he was unaware that he dealt with dyslexia. It was when he was attending the University of Hawaii that the former NFL star learned about his condition. Growing up, like most dyslexia-affected children, he faced numerous academic setbacks, but due to the late diagnosis, he did not understand what he was up against.
Although he studied at the University of Hawaii, a specialist at the University of Michigan finally diagnosed his condition, cracking the puzzle about why he always received poor grades during his schooling. After understanding the issue, life became a little easier for him because he began using audiobooks instead of studying through textbooks like most students. He applied the same technique in football, visualizing the game plays in his mind instead of memorizing everything altogether.
With a deep understanding of the condition, the former RB is now giving it back to the community, starting the Dream & Believe foundation that helps teens and adults dealing with learning disabilities around Houston, Texas, and Portland, Oregon. Moreover, he regularly visits schools to educate students about dyslexia, teaching them tricks to use it as an advantage instead of a roadblock in studies or athletic fields.
Living with dyslexia might create a serious obstacle, but these NFL players prove that it doesn’t block greatness. Their elite performance on the field and the impressive accolades show that managing it efficiently is the hidden engine of greatness.
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Avik Das
- Avik is a professional content writer with more than seven years of experience, contributing to renowned brands and specializing in a wide range of niches. He holds a Master's Degree in English Literature. He navigates ADHD every day and is committed to empowering the disabled community through his writing and perspective.
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