Anytime you watch a football game you’re watching hard hitting, finely-tuned machines on every play. That’s the game! And the league is full of extremely fit players both past and present. This is a shout out is to pay tribute to the athletes that put in the hard work at the gym to give their best performances on the field.
This list is in no particular order.
1. Tim Tebow
You can question his skill at his position on the field, but you cannot question this athlete’s work ethic in the gym. He has been working out since he was a young lad with tubing attached to his door. Now a days you can catch Tim Tebow stacking plates on the bar and setting PR’s for quarterbacks around the league.
PS: I may have picked this with my heart as I am a Philadelphia Eagles fan as well as a Florida Gators fan.
2. Herschel Walker
This was a pretty clear choice. I mean, the man was in amazing shape when he was at his prime and playing football. However, Mr. Walker (and I say Mr. because I’m pretty sure he can beat me up) decided his next big feature was going to be stepping in the octagon. Did I mention he was in his 40’s at this point!
This is one man who took his fitness level very seriously, and we should all aim to be like Herschel Walker.
3. Adrian Peterson
This man was always a freak of nature when it came to fitness but I believe his biggest claim to fame was his recovery process from an injury. Peterson suffered a torn ACL and MCL in 2011. This injury usually sidelines an athlete for a year and sometimes they are never the same. This did not stop Adrian Peterson from coming back the beginning of the next year and having a stellar return. Adrian Peterson changed the forecast of ACL injuries throughout the league ever since his astounding recovery.
4. Bob Hayes
Ok, I know I am going back a little bit in time with this pick but anyone who was an Olympic sprinter and played in the NFL will always receive my vote.
5. T.O
What could have been for my Philadelphia Eagles if McNabb and T.O. could have played nice with each other?! T.O. was the poster child for fitness. He was beyond athletic and he had a work ethic when it came to workouts that could not be matched by anyone. An amazing fact for T.O. is he loved resistance band training which proves you don’t always have to curl 100lbs each for arms like that.
6. Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick came bursting onto the scene when Alex Smith suffered a concussion and his stock could not have been higher. He had a cannon for an arm, he could outrun the blitz and run it in for a touchdown by himself, and at that point he could do no wrong. His stock has dropped a bit since that amazing Super Bowl run, however, his fitness levels are still sky high. You don’t make ESPN Body Issue without being in incredible shape. Let’s hope he can match his low body fat number with a low interception rate.
7. Reggie Bush
You can say he peaked in college, or maybe when he was dating Kim Kardashian. As an Eagles fan, I say my favorite moment was when Sheldon Brown leveled him in the backfield in the playoffs. No matter what time you pick for Reggie you cannot deny that this man has always been a physical beast. Now that he is on the 49ers maybe he can spot Kaepernick on the bench, or at least block the blitz and give his QB sometime.
8. Rob Gronkowski
Come on, this is simple, his catch phrase is GRONK SMASH! He also made the ESPN Body Issue as well. And you just can’t stop this guy on the field. Couple this with the fact that he loves to drink and party; it’s incredible that he stays this fit and this amazing on the field. Although, having Tom Brady (deflated balls or not) probably helps his stat line.
9. Steve Weatherford
I can hear it now “Joe Pepe picked a punter because he loves soccer”, or “ A punter isn’t an athlete come on Joe!”. Trust the process and just take a look at Steve he could quite possible by the fittest man ever in the NFL.
10. Pat Tillman
Any man who could give up football for his country is in my book the strongest man not in the league but in general. Thank you Pat for your service and thank you everyone else who is fighting the wars to keep the rest of us safe. Pat Tillman was strong physically and mentally, we should all aspire to have the strength he had.
