Upper-Body Workout Titans quarterback Will Levis swears by it

When you think of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, names like Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Peyton Manning are probably the first ones that jump out at you. And while they’re all famous now, all of these Hall of Famers were just the new kids on the block who had two things in common – a work ethic like no other and a hell of a lot of potential.

Speaking of potential, Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is making a name for himself after his rookie season, and not just because of his recent retirement. No. 8 signature parfum de mayonnaise created in collaboration with Hellmann’s.

The 25-year-old second-year player spent this past offseason creating more than just brand deals. According to Levis, he spent months working in and out of the gym to improve his game, from talking with new coach Brian Callahan to improving his footwork and improving his throwing technique to doing drills and drills specific position to ensure it hits the ground. it’s game time.

While the preseason and regular season workout schedule will vary from player to player, for Levis, “the intensity was geared toward the timing of the start of training camp, then the types of workouts were a combination of weight training, speed training, conditioning , and position-specific drills,” like getting balls in the air, throwing and working on throws to make sure he’s ready to be under center and in the gun.

While Levis claims to have been an Olympic athlete (power and hang cleans were his two favorites) before his NFL debut, he has since traded in the heavier, more intense lifts for full-body movements using dumbbells or kettlebells, in addition to the teams regular post-race runs.

As part of his collaboration with Optimal NutritionLewis spoke Men’s magazine to share the workout he swears by to bulletproof his pitching arm.

Upper-Body Workout Titans quarterback Will Levis swears by it

1. Med Ball Rotational Throw

How to do it

1. To start, stand about two to four feet away from a wall with a medicine ball in both hands.
2. Roll until the med ball is in line with your back hip.
3. Shift your weight from your back hip to your front hip as you rotate your hips and throw the ball explosively against the wall.
4. Grab the ball with both hands, rest, and repeat for 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps.

2. Overhead Slam

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and a med ball between and slightly in front of your feet to start.
2. Squat down to lift the ball, holding it at your sides (so your palms face in).
3. Stand up as you bring the ball up and slightly behind your head.
4. Push your hips back, stabilize your core, and power your arms to hit the ball into the ground.
5. It’s 1 rep.
6. Complete 4 sets of 15 repetitions.

3. Side-to-Side Med Ball Slam

How to do it

1. To start, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with a med ball slightly in front of your feet.
2. Squat down to lift the ball, holding it at your sides (so your palms face in).
3. Stand up and bring the ball high above your head.
4. Plant your feet and brace your core as you turn your hips slightly to the left side and hit the ball into the ground.
5. It’s 1 rep.
6. Pause and repeat the movement for 3 sets of 15 reps on each side.

4. Underhand Med Ball Throw

How to do it

1. To start, stand in front of a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a medicine ball in your hands, palms facing in.
2. Without moving your legs, squat down and lower the ball between your legs.
3. Using a stealth move, throw the ball at the wall in front of you and catch it as it rebounds.
4. It’s 1 rep.
5. Complete 3 sets of 12 repetitions.

5. Slam on the chest

How to do it

1. To start, place your feet just outside shoulder-width apart with a med ball between and slightly in front of your feet.
2. Pick up the med ball and tuck your elbows into your body.
3. Hinge slightly at the hips and bend your knees before hitting the ball on the ground.
4. Repeat for 4 sets of 15 reps.

Related: Patrick Mahomes’ coach shares a look at the quarterback’s offseason workouts

The Will Levis Diet

Protein for peak performance

You’ll often hear fitness gurus go on and on about the importance of nutrition—hence the sayings abs are made in the kitchen and protein is the building block of muscle. But when you become a professional athlete, the importance of an incoming call pattern is twofold. Not only do pros have to make sure they eat enough to meet the demands of hours of games and endless practices, but they also have to navigate recovery through food.

“I think nutrition is the biggest thing, and that’s been a point of emphasis for me these last couple of years that I’ve been calling a lot,” Levis says. “I’ve never been one to watch my calories and protein one hundred percent, but protein is what I keep my finger on this off-season…because I know if I don’t have the recovery I need with the diet I put in, I won’t be able to go out when I want to on the field.”

Will Levis’ Keys to Recovery

All-in for cupping, cold immersion and massage

Over the past several years, many professional athletes have traded their weekly cupping outings for daily hot and cold sessions thanks to saunas and cold plunges. While ice baths and saunas have been a regular part of recovery for decades, athletes like Levis are now using them as a way not only to recover but also to start their day with something that challenges both the body and the mind.

“I’ll go into the hammam every morning for 10 minutes and then go straight into the cold,” says Levis. “I’ll go down there, hold my breath for about 30 to 45 seconds, wake up, and then do a little contrast between cold and hot. I think it’s a really good routine to start every morning before I go and take that lift.”

But the recovery doesn’t stop there, he trained his body to the absolute maximum, after all.

“Massage was probably the biggest investment I made in myself, and what I feel has helped me the most is getting my body right on a weekly basis,” she says. “I get two, two-hour massages every Tuesday and Friday every week during the season with my therapist who is incredible. He knows my body better than anyone and can understand what’s going on with me even better than I can sometimes.”