Red Zones And Rocket Science

Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Josh Dobbs Reaches for the Sky

- Anthony Elio

“With the 135th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Joshua Dobbs, quarterback, Tennessee.”

With this announcement on April 29, 2017, Josh Dobbs would begin a career like none other: playing quarterback for a historic NFL franchise. The opportunity to play for two playoff-built teams that thrive on competition, the Pittsburgh Steelers and, after a recent trade, the Jacksonville Jaguars, is the dream of countless young athletes.

Josh Dobbs has been fascinated with aviation from a young age, fondly remembering everything from fixating on planes at the airport to attending a Tuskegee Airmen camp in seventh grade. This strong interest, along with his substantial math and science skills, would inspire him to study aerospace engineering at the University of Tennessee, where he received The Torchbearer Award, the highest honor for a UT undergraduate. In our conversation, Dobbs detailed his recent NASA trip, the importance of STEM education, and his professional plans beyond the gridiron.

Innovation & Tech Today: How would you compare the thought process of quarterbacking an NFL team versus aerospace engineering?