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Matt Ryan has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL over the past decade or so, as the former No. 3 overall pick has helped guide the Atlanta Falcons to the playoffs a number of times, with the team even reaching the Super Bowl a couple years ago. Hell, the guy has won a league MVP before, so it’s not like he’s some slouch who doesn’t know how to toss around the pigskin.
While he’s been a top-notch signal-caller, like most players early on in their career, Matt Ryan didn’t seem to understand the importance of taking care of his body for the long-term, as he was just doing what everyone else was doing to sustain his physique; like lifting weights to bulk up. But Ryan quickly learned that that might not be the best strategy, because, during a joint practice with the New England Patriots in 2010, Ryan got some A+ training advice from Tom Brady, who told him flexibility and mobility are the way to longevity in the NFL.
Talking to NBC Sports’ Peter King, here’s what Ryan had to say about the advice Brady told him back then.
“The Patriots came down here and practiced with us maybe in 2009 or 2010, I can’t remember what year it was, but I was having tendinitis in my elbow, and I remember Tom was working out in our weight room right here after one of the practices,” Ryan said. “And I just was in there doing my routine after and just talked to him a little bit about how he was staying as healthy as he could like this time in his career — I was only in Year 2 or 3 — and he was saying, ‘When we’re young, we do all this lifting and we get real tight and bulked up and all these things, and you just hurt.’ He’s like, ‘And now I’m trying to lengthen and be strong but be mobile and all those things.’
“And I remember hearing that as a young player and being like, ‘Man, that makes a lot of sense. He might be on to something.’ And I think the trend has gone that way. Obviously him with the TB12 and their method and everything that he does, obviously he’s doing a great job with it, but I think there’s a lot of guys who are following that mold.”
Brady, who turns 42 years old this Saturday, has been praised for his TB12 method, which is supposed to be his secret sauce for playing at a high level for as long as he has. It’s one of the reasons so many other players marvel at what he’s been able to do, because he’s changed the way athletes workout, with the results speaking for themselves in his case.
With Matt Ryan “only” being 34 years old — which, when compared to Brady, seems young — it’ll be interesting to see if he can maintain his body like the GOAT has in order to prolong his career. Seeing as how the method has worked wonders for Tom Brady, it’s probably something that Ryan, and other players, might want to consider using more often.
(H/T NESN)