The NFL does not require a degree, but does have an age requirement which occasionally comes up as a hot debate point: "The NFL Eligibility Requirements NFL rule requires a player to either be out of high school for three years or have finished three college football seasons before joining the league. (Lupica, M. 2004) The NFL is the only major professional sport that prohibits the drafting of players who have not completed three college seasons or who are not three years removed from high school graduation (Gehring, 2004; Nieporent 2004). The NFL claims that this rule is in the athlete's best interest. The NFL argues that this rule protects player’s physical safety. However, the NFL and the NCAA benefit by capitalizing on amateur athletes."

http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/age-requirement-profe...