We used to have several small articles on the NFL training of specific players, however, we have decided to put all the best NFL workout tips and videos here. These articles provide several perspectives on NFL training as well as motivations advice.
This article covers Tom Brady, some advice from the top training Vince Gabriele which includes a gym schedule, some information and advice on Rolando McClain the finally some details of the upcoming star of New Detroit Lion, Matthew Stafford.
Tom Brady’s NFL Training Tips for Quarterbacks
Tom Brady explains how he was once a small guy in school but learnt to grow stronger, both mentally and physically, in the gym.
In this short video Tom Brady, who won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 2007 and 2010, explains a little about how he goes about improving his performance.
He explains how at High School he was just an average player, and soon realized that he could not compete with the more athletic players. So he put himself into training to become athletic and also improving his QB skills.
His main tip is to not compare himself to others, but to focus on your own strengths and weaknesses. And that can only be done through years of dedication to your sport.
NFL Athlete Training with Donnie Edwards, Jacques Cesaire and Marcus Demps
The requirements of NFL players today is huge. Football players have to be big, strong, fast, athletic. One of the leagues top trainers is Vince Gabriele, and here he shares his training workouts that the likes of Donnie Edwards and Jacques Cesaire (San Dieogo Chargers) and Marcus Demps (Detroit Loins).
The training sessions generally include a mixture of weight training, resistance band drills, sprint drills, plyometrics jumps and strength conditioning. In the below video clip we see a mixture of the following NFL fitness exercises:
In the gym:
- Bench Press – free weights, go heavy
- Weighted Stability Lunges (rear leg on a bench)
- Resistance / exercise band sprints
- Resistance / exercise side shuffles
- Tractor Tyre rolls (flips, not rolling!)
- Walking lunges
- Lateral slides on a slide board
- Lateral One legged side jumps
- Lateral two legged side jumps
- Jumping Jacks
- Medicine ball leg raises
- Lunge jumps
- Core training (weighted crunches etc.)
- Vertical jump training
On the Field:
- Outdoor Sprint drills
- Shuttle runs
- Resistance / exercise band drills attacking the blocking pad
In the backyard:
- Dragging 100lb disc with one arm – sideways, backwards, forwards
Vince Gabriele – NFL Athlete Training
Alabama Crimson Tide – Rolando McClain – College Football Linebacker
Rolando McClain was born on July 14, 1989. He started his junior season last year (2009) and has already clocked 274 tackles in his 3 year career. In December last year he won the Lambert Award which was given for best Collegiate Linebacker. He has also won the Dick Butkus Award.
He declared for the 2010 NFL Draft on January 11 2010, and is considered a 1st round prospect. He have dropped out of college to play professional football, and has an excellent career ahead of him.
What makes a good linebacker like Rolando McClain?
A linebacker needs to be conditioned well to hit hard, often people bigger than he is. For this some of the best training involves compound weight training with emphasis on explosive moves like the power clean as well as the essential squats, deadlifts and bench press.
Also a linebacker needs to be fast and powerful. Sprint interval training is a key element to training. Also plyometric training workouts with weigh vests on work really well to increase explosive power.
Typically weight training and cardio/plyometrics will be split so each is trained 3 times per week, with one day rest. But really the coach determines what will work for the individual.
Linebacker Drills and Training
Matthew Stafford – New Detroit Lions Quarterback – NFL Training
Matthew Stafford, the 21 year old from Tampa, Florida, is Detroit’s new QB. He started playing football at Highland Park High School (Dallas, Texas) and was coached by Randy Allen. Even when at school he was rated as one of the finest high school quarterbacks in the United States. That was 3 years ago, in the class of 2006. He really started his career playing college football at the University of Georgia. Stafford was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance against Mississippi State in which he completed 20 of 32 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns.
He performs the standard training routine an NFL player. Weight training is split in to upper body and lower body days, as this then allows sprint drills to be done either side of the upper body days, then extra rest for the lower body (leg) weight training sessions.
He received his pre-professional training at the Athletes’ Performance Training Facilities, which taught him the importance of good nutrition and sport specific training techniques and advice on avoiding and dealing with injuries. The training program consists of the following elements:
Performance Training
- Individualized nutrition
- Soft-tissue massage
- Chiropractic services (if needed)
- On-site meal services
- Full rehab
- Cold/hot tubs for regeneration
Combine-specific Training
- Drill preparation
- Position specific coaching
- Wonderlic training
- Media training
- NFL GMs/Coaches
Matthew Stafford NFL Combine Preparations
NFL is an extremely tough sport that requires huge amounts of dedication, personal drive, strength and willpower. The training is hard and relentless, then the games are tough and often lead to injuries which can halt training completely. Having a good coach in this sport is vital, and those that are at the top of their game can attribute much of their success to their excellent coaches.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady makes the winning touchdown, sending the Patriots to Super Bowl XLVI