The retirement of Ali Marpet from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the age of 28 sent shockwaves through the NFL. While Tom Brady's decision to retire at 44 was met with surprise, Marpet's departure at his prime felt like a seismic event. This article delves into the factors behind Marpet's surprising retirement, his dedication to health, and the diet and exercise regimen that fueled his successful NFL career.
A Shocking Departure from the NFL
Ali Marpet exceeded all expectations on the field throughout his seven-year career. He also managed to endear himself to fans, coaches, and teammates alike, off of it. Drafted out of Hobart College in 2015, Marpet quickly became a fan favorite, making a significant impact on the Buccaneers franchise. His unexpected retirement as a Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl Champion in 2022 left many wondering, "What gives?"
While Marpet offered a brief explanation in his public retirement announcement on social media, speculation abounded regarding the true reasons behind his decision. An interview conducted by Melissa Jacobs shed light on the matter, revealing Marpet's focus on his long-term physical and mental health.
Prioritizing Health Over Football
Marpet emphasized that his decision to retire stemmed from a deep commitment to his health. “I loved playing football. But one of my strongest values is health and if I’m really going to live out what’s important to me it doesn’t make sense to keep playing. There are also the unknowns of the head trauma of the NFL and how that plays out."
Despite his durability on the field, Marpet acknowledged the physical toll of playing offensive line in the NFL. He specifically mentioned concerns about head trauma, having dealt with concussion issues during the 2020 season, which forced him to miss three regular-season games. This acknowledgment suggests that the health of his mind, not just his body, was a major factor in his decision to retire.
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Marpet also discussed the challenges of maintaining the weight required for his position. He said, “I was eating as clean as possible for a 300-pounder but having all the weight on your body is bad." This perspective highlights the sacrifices and potential long-term health consequences faced by offensive linemen in the NFL.
A Reflective and Forward Thinker
Ali Marpet has always been a thoughtful, and reflective yet forward thinker. Jacobs’ article does a great job of emphasizing this unique aspect of Marpet’s psyche-something that can in many ways be attributed to his upbringing and family influence-in addition to the person that he is and always has been. As much as Marpet enjoyed his success as a football player, he never lost sight of his true purpose in life. Which to him, was his long-term physical and mental health, and overall well-being. He's such an advocate for mental health, in fact, that he plans to pursue a Master's Degree in mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy. Ali Marpet left the NFL in his prime because he wanted to preserve his mind, his body, and his ability to live the rest of his life to the fullest.
From Division III to NFL Stardom
Marpet's journey to the NFL was an unlikely one. He attended Hobart College, a Division III school, and became the highest-drafted player in Division III history when the Buccaneers selected him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the only Division III player invited to the Senior Bowl.
His exceptional play at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine, where he ran the fastest 40-yard dash among offensive linemen (4.98 seconds), solidified his status as a top prospect. “At that point, I was like, yeah, this is definitely going to happen,” Marpet said. “At that point, I had numbers to back up what I knew I could do.”
The Ali Marpet Diet: Fueling a 300-Pound Lineman
Maintaining the size and strength required to play offensive line in the NFL demands a rigorous diet. Marpet's dietary habits were a significant part of his transformation from a 240-pound high school graduate to a 300-pound NFL Pro Bowler.
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During his time at Hobart College, Marpet consumed between 7,000 and 9,000 calories per day. “I need 7,000-plus [calories per day]." He made adjustments to his eating habits that allowed him to gain over 70 pounds. He maintained a strict diet, with one exception being his Tuesday trips to Wegman's to order a Danny's Favorite -- a 14-inch sub with Genoa salami, capicola and spicy ham on it. During his family's annual winter vacation to Jamaica, he set his alarm every two hours to eat and scavenged leftovers from their 10- to 12-person dinner party.
His daily breakfast consisted of a hearty combination of oatmeal with peanut butter, eggs, a banana, and Greek yogurt. Everyone’s got eggs, but I crush, like, eight eggs at a time. He varied the preparation of his eggs, switching between scrambled and other methods to avoid monotony. But you have to do it low and slow with a lot of TLC. Otherwise it becomes difficult to eat. There is a method because if you [eat them] too fast then it becomes hard.
Marpet also enjoyed cheat meals, indulging in Taco Tuesday at Green Lemon, where he would consume multiple Gigante Chicken tacos, tuna tacos on Bibb lettuce, and Cerdo Perfecto (pork) tacos. Green Lemon’s Taco Tuesday. That’s a cheat meal. I might do a bit of overeating there as well. I usually get four or five Gigante Chicken tacos, three tuna - but I get the tuna on Bibb lettuce. That’s a healthy alternative and you don’t get all carbed up from the tortillas - and then the Cerdo Perfecto [pork tacos]. I’ll get like two of those.
The Buccaneers employ a Team Sports Dietitian by the name of Kevin Luhrs, and believe me, he is very much involved with the players on a day-to-day basis. Luhrs's "duties include the coordination of all meals and snacks for all players. In addition, Luhrs instructs players how and what to eat based on their individual goals and nutritional needs. Luhrs helps some players craft very specific meal plans. He's more than happy to walk with a player through what he calls the "training table" in the dining room at One Buccaneer Place, pointing out exactly what he should put on his plate. Even beyond that, however, everything that is served in that dining room is marked with nutritional information using a "traffic light system." Green is good, yellow is okay on active days and red should be avoided. If you're going to eat something that maybe isn't so great for you, you're going to do so knowingly. Last year, the Buccaneers allowed Luhrs to convert part of the players' lounge into a "recovery bar," which is also colloquially referred to as the "shake station." As you can imagine, one of its main offerings is a variety of protein smoothies (not to mention fresh and dried fruit, granola bars and other healthy snacks), and since the lounge is in the direct path from the practice field to the locker room, it's a popular stop for players after they've put in several hours of very hard work.
Exercise and Training Regimen
In addition to his diet, Marpet's physical transformation was fueled by a dedicated exercise and training regimen. He worked to bulk up for the NFL, visiting different teams that have expressed interest in drafting him; working to "clean up some technical things" in his game for an expected position switch from tackle to guard or center; talking to reporters; and studying for finals so that he can graduate on time with an economics degree.
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Marpet's athleticism was evident at the NFL Combine, where he showcased his speed, strength, and agility. He ran a 4.98-second 40-yard dash, the fastest among offensive linemen, and also excelled in the 20-yard shuttle (4.47 seconds) and the three-cone drill (7.33 seconds). He bench-pressed 225 lbs. 30 times at the NFL combine - fourth highest among offensive linemen.
Life Beyond Football
Since retiring from the NFL, Marpet has focused on his passion for mental health advocacy. He is pursuing a Master's Degree in mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy.
He enjoys spending time at St. Pete Beach, reading, and relaxing at Picnic Island Park near his house. A: I’m a big beach guy, so I usually go out to St. Pete Beach. My dad and my mom both have places in St. Pete. A: Picnic Island Park. It’s near my house. I hang out there and read and relax. I’m always at One Buc Place [laughs]. So it’s between One Buc, my house and the park. He's also known for his signature thumbs-up pose in pictures.