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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Baylor University have a partnership rooted in service and scholarship. 

Cheering on our Bears in the NFL is second nature to Baylor fans — from legends like Mike Singletary (BBA ’83) to current stars such as Jalen Pitre (BBA ’20, MSED ’21), there’s no shortage of Baylor alums who have made us proud at the next level.

But it’s not just on the field; all across the NFL, Baylor Bears can be found in front offices and training rooms, discovering talent on the scouting trail and generating revenue in tickets and sales. 

Each of the last two years, Baylor has been named among TIME magazine’s top 40 colleges for future leaders. In their research, the publication’s editors studied the resumes of thousands of U.S. leaders to see where they got their start — with Baylor standing out among the nation’s best.

That’s certainly true in the field of education, where countless Baylor alumni are serving as principals, deans, superintendents, etc. In the world of higher ed, 40 Baylor Bears are now the top executives at colleges and universities around the world — the most since BaylorProud began tracking this list in 2011. Here’s a quick rundown of those currently serving as presidents and chancellors:

Each year, the NFL recognizes one player with its Walter Payton Man of the Year award — honoring those who excel not only on the field, but also in the community by demonstrating “a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.” It’s a big enough deal that winners get to wear a special patch on their uniforms for the rest of their careers.

This year, the league’s 32 nominees for the award (one per team) include not one, but two Baylor Bears: Andrew Billings (Chicago Bears) and Jalen Pitre (Houston Texans).