When Kyle Hamilton qualified for Mensa—basically: first-team All-Pro for the most intelligent among us—he didn’t know that Mensa existed. Which makes sense, even though he scored above 132 on a standard IQ test, leaping the barometer for membership. He didn’t know because he was in . His mother filled out the application for him, received the acceptance packet and tried to explain the whole thing. Her son just shrugged, naturally, which owed to his age but also to his bearing.
Fast-forward about 15 years. Kyle Hamilton is still a genius. But unlike many of his fellow Mensa members, he’s not yet a business executive, doctor, venture capitalist nor scientist. His current day job consists of playing safety for the Baltimore Ravens, although simply naming his position falls woefully short of capturing his varied influence. He’s also still racking up accolades. Voted the Ravens “Good Guy” by local journalists. Named the youngest defensive starter for the Pro Bowl (at 22). Named first-team All-Pro—this time, in football—specifically, on the NFL Players Association’s list, where the best players are selected only by their peers.
That Hamilton reacted the same way he did to the IQ score in third grade didn’t surprise anyone who knows him. The day he made first-team All-Pro morphed a dream into an honor. But that’s not where Hamilton hunts for value, nor where the Ravens benefit from the impact he imparts. Both start with the same attribute—versatility. And Hamilton, Mensa member, All-Pro, might be the most versatile player in a league where that specific trait has never been more valued.
