Accomplished on and off the field, former NFL cornerback Troy Vincent will share his story with the Class of 2026 as speaker at Franklin & Marshall College’s 239th Commencement on May 9. While Vincent certainly knows his way around the gridiron, he has several secret talents. Learn five surprising facts about the NFL’s current executive vice president of football operations.

"I knew a pathway to any type of success was through education."

Troy Vincent

1. Basketball was his first love 

“I was a dreamer,” Vincent said. “Who did I want to be? Dr. J [Julius Erving] and Michael Jordan.”

At 6'1," he didn’t quite have the height needed for hoops. “But I knew a pathway to any type of success was through education,” Vincent said. 

He played basketball in high school before heading to University of Wisconsin-Madison on a football scholarship. Vincent even donned jersey No. 23 for all 15 seasons of his pro career, a subtle nod to Air Jordan.  

Vincent helped restore a park in a Trenton, N.J. neighborhood where he once played basketball, naming it after his grandfather, Jefferson Vincent.

2. He's a solid chef

Vincent is something of a pitmaster. “I love barbecue. I love grilling. I've gotten really good with lamb chops. I can cook a mean sirloin. The kids love it,” he said. Another surprising culinary specialty? French toast. 

3. He studied urban and regional planning in college

Vincent was drawn to humanitarian endeavors from an early age. “I wanted to get an education so I could come back home and make Trenton a little bit different than when I left it,” said Vincent. “What do I need to do with myself to come back and bring some value to the community?”

He completed his bachelor’s degree at Thomas Edison State College after retiring from football, later pursuing certificates in business at Stanford, Harvard, Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

4. He was a Double Dutch jump roper

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that an NFL cornerback known for speed, agility and a high game IQ had an inclination for fancy footwork, even at a young age. 

Before he was dribbling a basketball or running sweeps on the football field, Vincent excelled at Double Dutch – two jump ropes turning in eggbeater fashion. 

5. He served as a Trenton Guardian Angel

As a teen, Vincent joined Trenton’s Guardian Angels citizen patrol group, easily identifiable by their red berets. “You go through disciplines of conflict resolution. They teach you self defense. You walk the streets and just become an extension of the community, making sure that the community stays safe,” he said. 

Bonus: He won’t reveal his favorite city to play for

In his 15-year pro career, Vincent played for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders. 

“Every place that I played had its own subset of experiences that were unique. The people, the city, the community, the coaches,” he said. “At 55, I have an appreciation for the different cultures, demographics, city life and personalities of each of those places.”

Vincent does hold a soft spot for his collegiate alma mater. “Who would ever think a kid from Trenton, New Jersey, would end up in Madison, Wisconsin, and fall in love with it and the people?”

Celebrating the Class of 2026

Graduating members of Franklin & Marshall’s Class of 2026 will be honored during Commencement May 9 in the College's Alumni Sports & Fitness Center (ASFC). Guest attendance is limited to the graduates and their preregistered guests. Others may view the virtual Commencement broadcast at the Ann & Richard Barshinger Center for the Musical Arts; tickets are not required.

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