Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen, left, looks on as students from South Mountain High School explore STEM career pathways through an online course. Rosen plans to return to classes at UCLA this summer. (Photo by Drake Dunaway/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX — Josh Rosen returned to school Tuesday. This summer, he is going to do it again. As a student.
While visiting South Mountain High School for an EverFi STEM event, the Arizona Cardinals quarterback said he will resume taking classes at UCLA.
“I’m really excited to go back and start learning again without the certain schedule restrictions I used to have,” Rosen said.
Education has been a recurring theme in Rosen’s life. His parents graduated from Ivy League schools. He had a 4.8 GPA in high school and is widely regarded as one of the league’s most critical thinkers.
He was visiting South Mountain as a representative for the Cardinals, who have teamed with Cox Communications to sponsor the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs for high school freshmen across the Phoenix metropolitan area.
“Education is literally the foundation of civilization,” he said, “because that is how the older generation is going to try to prepare their kids to take over as they move on.”
The Cardinals rookie has been outspoken on education in the past.
In an interview with Bleacher Report before his junior season at UCLA, which ended up being his final one, he said that “football and school don’t go together,” comparing both to full-time jobs and expressed concern that universities make it difficult for players to embrace education.
That helps explain why the former economics major is supporting high school programs like Endeavor, and why he has decided to resume his education. He plans to fully immerse himself in the material now that he will have the time.
“I think, especially without football and the way I can go back and like really dive into classes,” he said. “Go a little early and stay a little late, and actually really study material and try to learn and not just pass tests and stay eligible.”
Rosen has two more years of studies left at UCLA to earn his degree, but the degree is not the reason he’s going back.
“It’s not as important for me to finish as it is I just really want to get back and like start learning again,” he said.
Rosen also touched on how he believes the country, and especially Arizona, needs criminal justice reform and how he considers himself a climate activist.
“I love the environment and I’m going to have some pretty fresh shoes for My Cleats, My Cause,” Rosen said about the NFL’s campaign that started last year.
But he still believes education should be a primary focus.
“Having someone like Josh Rosen in the classroom is really helpful to get students excited,” said Jessica Golden, a Regional Director at EverFi, “to show that there’s people in the community who are invested in their future.”
The program he was supporting allows freshmen in high school to explore STEM career pathways through an online course.
EverFi provides classes that use, “today’s technology to connect learning to the real world and equip communities with the skills they need for success in the 21st century,” the company’s website says.
“This is right up my alley,” Rosen said. “I’m really excited to go back to school. I’m more excited to finish this season and hopefully a couple more wins, but I’m definitely looking forward to going back and extending my education.
“Not just getting a diploma.”
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