No other sport in the US has a cult following like American football. NFL players are fast and also extremely strong. They’ve got to be since they have to move quickly despite weighing 200-over pounds!
So, how does a player make it to the top of the NFL MVP odds? Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen know how. Aside from spending time in the field, they’re in the gym for many hours each week.
How to Train Like an NFL MVP
What do football players have in common? One thing you’ll notice is their size and strength. Therefore, when they hit the gym, many of their exercises focus on heavy-weight training. They also perform drills to improve athletic performance. At the same time, they make sure to shield their body against injuries. They do this by improving elasticity.
To excel in this much-beloved sport, players spend a lot of time in training. They do sprints and weight exercises. And let’s not forget agility and throwing exercises. Players learn how to make split-second decisions and move at a moment’s notice. They must also be able to transition quickly, whether accelerating or decelerating.
It’s all about precision, power, and speed. Mastering all that doesn’t come overnight. Check out these exercises. They’re all a must if you’re trying to enter the Hall of Fame.
Squats
Squats are so functional in building your core. They’re great for balance and posture. NFL players also use them to prevent injuries and boost calorie burn. Other than basic squats, NFL MVPs make sure they perform variations. For example, they may do back squats with a barbell as resistance. They may also include overhead squats in their routine.
Deadlifts
When it comes to strength training, deadlifts are a staple. They activate hip extensors and improve jump performance while reducing back pain, a common ailment of football players. They’re also excellent for the core. As with other exercises, deadlifts come with variations. Sumo, single-leg, and Romanian deadlifts are but a few.
Bench Presses
Do bench presses to build up your arm, chest, and shoulder muscles. These are crucial for football, where your upper body does a lot of work. This exercise involves lying on a bench. You’ll extend your arms and press weight in the form of a barbell (or dumbbells) up from chest level. To build strength, use a heavier weight.
Power Clean Exercises
The power clean began as an Olympic sport. However, it has now evolved into an essential exercise for building strength and power. This move has six phases:
- Starting position
- First pull
- Transition (scoop)
- Second pull (power)
- Catch
- The return
The power clean is all about technique, so it’s a good idea to consult a certified training. This will help prevent injuries and ensure proper posture.
Sprints
How do you burn calories, increase cardiovascular and muscular endurance, and simply be more physically fit? Sprints must be in your workout routine. This exercise is highly customizable, adding to its popularity. NFL players increase the intensity of their sprints by manipulating time. They may alter sprint durations and lower recovery times.
Lunges
What’s so great about lunges? Aside from working several muscle groups simultaneously, they also strengthen the body and prevent injuries. Furthermore, they don’t require any equipment (except for certain variations). Therefore, you can perform static, backward, lateral, curtsy, and walking lunges at any time of the day and anywhere.
Agility Ladder Drills
Agility ladder drills are all about performance. Execute these drills, and up your cardio game. This exercise is essential for badminton, football, and basketball players. Performing it is pretty simple. A speed ladder is laid out on the floor, and you’ll step into squares (or out) in repetitions. Here, agility and speed are the name of the game.
Planks
What’s the best exercise to strengthen your core and build muscle to be better at football? No, it isn’t crunches, nor is it situps. You should do planks instead. Planks are very simple to pull off. However, holding the positions is a different story. You can start off with a high plank, then move to low and side planks.
Medicine Ball Throws
A medicine ball is simply a weighted ball similar to a basketball in that it’s bounceable. Throwing this ball, whether with a split-stance scoop or a downward slam, is excellent for building upper-body strength and flexibility. This workout is great for the whole body, helping you enhance physical performance and agility.
Work Out Like Patrick Mahomes Today
An MVP does more than play football. He lifts, planks, sprints, and more. He works on his agility and improves his coordination with every exercise. The above exercises may sound basic, but they take a lot of effort. However, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson will be the first to tell you that it’s all worth it.
