TestoFuel Blog : Make Gains & Pack on the Muscle
In a league that seems to get faster and stronger each week, it’s important for an NFL pro to stay on top of their game – physically and mentally. Anybody who has spent their Sundays (or Monday and Thursday nights) in front of the TV cheering on their favorite teams understands. In a sport like this, your body is your tool for the job you need to get done. To win and keep winning and make it to that all-important Super Bowl.
NFL players work hard all year round to keep their performance at peak levels. It makes sense – being able to sprint 40 yards in 4.4 seconds or take on multiple knocks and tackles for 17 weeks straight isn’t something anyone could do. Unless you have the right game plan.
The question is: are you ready to train like a professional?
To get that vital combination of speed, strength, agility and power – and to be successful on the field, an NFL pro spends a lot of time in the gym. Here at TestoFuel we have just the workout to help you enjoy that same growth, energy and confidence.
In this guide, we cover:
In the NFL, there isn’t really an offseason. Players work all year round to fine-tune the things they’re good at.
These players are jacked, there’s no doubt about that. And the heightened levels of testosterone on the field undoubtedly contribute to their overall athletic performance[1].
Want to see if you could train like an NFL pro? Here are the best exercises to hone your physique.
Based on a 4-day training schedule, this targeted workout regime should help you work your way to an athletic and conditioned physique – just like the players you see on the field.
Day 1: Speed training circuit
Day 2: Rest
Day 3: Agility training circuit
Day 4: Rest
Day 5: Explosive power training circuit
Day 6: Rest
Day 7: All-body strength training circuit
TIP: Before each workout, make sure you start with a dynamic warmup. These reduce the risk of injury and improve your physical performance. Here are some dynamic exercises to try:
| Exercise | Reps |
| Leg swing | 10 (each leg) |
| Lateral lunge | 10 (per side) |
| Inchworm | 10 |
| Arm circles | 10 forward & 10 backward |
Speed can be the deciding factor between a win or a loss – and the players know it. Some players have even clocked in running speeds of 22mph on the field[2]. While we don’t expect you to reach that pace (just yet), we know how you can train to get a little faster on your feet. Each exercise below has been selected to help you develop acceleration just like an NFL pro.
Repeat this circuit three times.
| Exercise | Reps |
| High knees running | 30 secs |
| Prowler sled push | 8 |
| Box jumps | 8 |
| Resisted sprint drills | 6 |
Stand straight and tall and run in place as fast as you can. Bring your knees as high as possible, driving through the balls of your feet.
Load up the sled with weight – you’ll be able to judge how much first by seeing if you can get it going. Take up a low position against the sled, setting up your feet so that they are the same width as your usual running posture. Pushing with either straight or bent arms, embrace your core and drive through your forefoot as you move forward.
With your feet shoulder width apart, stand facing the box. Lower yourself into a quarter squat, keeping your black flat. Sway your arms forward and use the momentum to jump up onto the box landing with both feet. To cushion your landing, make sure you bend both legs and stand up before stepping back down off the box.
Wear a form of resistance over your shoulders or round the waist. You can normally use a resistance band attached to a sled or partner. When attached, propel yourself forward and maintain proper running form. One rule of thumb is to add no more than 10 per cent resistance and run no more than 5 meters.
In NFL, agility is important for any player. They must be quick and agile to tackle, block or shield against the offense. Likewise, they must be nimble on their feet to hit a hole in the defense while keeping hold of the ball. These functional workouts will keep your coordination on point and help you move your body like a real athlete.
Repeat this circuit three times.
| Exercise | Reps |
| Medicine ball chest ball & shuffle | 8 |
| Single leg goblet squats | 10 (each leg) |
| Lateral plyometric jumps | 30 seconds |
| Jump rope | 60 seconds |
Hold a medicine ball with both hands at your chest and face a sturdy wall. Make sure you’re far enough from the wall to have space to extend your arms and pass the ball, however, be sure you’re close enough to catch it too. Throw the ball at the wall and shuffle laterally, catching it back and bringing it to your chest. Change shuffle directions along the wall.
Grab hold of a kettlebell and stand facing away from a bench/chair. Bring your right foot off the ground, extending the leg out in front of you. Push your hips back, bend your knee, and keep straight as you slowly lower down to sit. Once seated, return your right foot to the ground. Repeat on each leg.
Place a line on the floor using cones or something similar. Stand alongside the line. With your feet no more than hip-width apart, bend your knees to squat. Push upward through your heels quickly and sideways towards the other side of the line. Land softly, squatting deeply. Repeat the jump back and forth over the line, keeping your shoulders and hips facing forward.
Stand with your rope behind you and your feet placed together. Keep your hands at hip height and flick your wrists to circle the rope up and over your head. Jump up and over the rope slightly off the ground. Try to keep your shoulders and arms relaxed, using your wrists only to turn the rope.
NFL pros are known for how fast they can sprint across the field and bring down the offense. They make powerful blocks when compared to other, less-fiery athletes. To express high levels of force and endure inevitable contact on the field, players must have great strength levels. These explosive workouts will help you get some of the power that an NFL pro has.
Repeat this circuit three times.
| Exercise | Reps |
| Bench press | 10 |
| Power clean | 8 |
| Front squat | 8 |
| Romanian deadlift | 10 |
Lay underneath the bar on a flat bench, making sure it lines up directly above your eyeline. Reach up and grab the bar with a medium grip-width. Unrack the bar and lower it to your mid-chest. Your elbows should be bent at 90-degrees. Press the bar back up until your arms are straight.
Grab a barbell from the floor with your hands outside shoulder width. Stand up explosively and shrug the bar, keeping it as close to your body as possible. As the bar reaches your chest, quickly drop into a squat position and flip your wrists so that your palms are facing the ceiling. Catch the bar across the front of your shoulders and stand up. From this position you can drop the bar to the ground – if you’re on a lifting platform.
Start with the barbell on a power rack at shoulder width height. Grab the bar with both hands facing toward the floor and about shoulder width apart. Bend your elbows downward and bring your upper chest towards the bar so that it rests on your shoulders. Push your elbows upwards and your shoulders forward so the bar is totally pressed into them. Lift the bar off the rack, taking one step back with each foot. Your feet should be shoulder width apart as you drop down into the squat and return to the starting standing position.
Grab a barbell or kettlebell and place it on the floor. Keeping your chest up and lower back flat, hinge at the hips and bend at your knees to pick up the bar. Tighten your glutes and core and raise to a standing position. Make sure your arms are extended. Bend at your knees as you lower the bar back to the ground, keeping your back flat and arms straight.
NFL players spend months training their bodies to improve their muscle mass and strength to ultimately become bigger, faster and studier. What’s more, having more muscle protects them from risk of injury. These total body exercises will help add some mass to your physique and boost mobility.
Repeat this circuit three times.
| Exercise | Reps |
| Overhead press | 10 |
| Bent over row | 10 |
| Medicine ball sit-up | 8 |
| Dumbbell lunge | 10 |
Taking the bar from a power rack, stand with it on your front shoulders and your hands placed next to your shoulders. Focus on squeezing your shoulders and press the bar over your head, tilting your head backwards slightly. Lock your elbows at the top and keep your chest up during each rep.
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, bend at your knees and lean forward from the waist. Keep your back straight and grab the bar with your hands palm face down. Let the bar hang with your arms straight and squeeze your shoulders to row the weight up towards your sternum. Lower it back down again.
Lay on the floor with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Grab a medicine ball with both hands and perform a sit-up, raising the ball straight over your head.
Stand with your feet hip distance apart and hold a dumbbell at each side – palms facing your body. Take a controlled lunge forward with your right foot, making sure your knees are bent at 90 degrees and your front thigh is parallel to the ground. Push your right heel into the floor, bringing your left leg forward back to the starting position. Repeat on the opposite leg.
Remember to cool down after your workout. Any NFL pro would! Flush out any lactic acid with a quick jog or give the dynamic exercises a go again for a good stretch. Foam rolling will also help to reduce any muscle soreness and protect them from getting taut.
Want to feel more like a professional athlete in your workouts? Try the safe, natural and legal way to raise your testosterone levels – TestoFuel. The all-natural testosterone boosting supplement contains premium ingredients that work to optimize your T levels. And with your masculine hormones performing at their highest level, you’ll be enjoying that dominant NFL edge in no time.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3264812/
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/sports/football/nfl-speed-leonard-fournette.html
