Many NFL players face the challenge of managing their weight after retirement, particularly offensive and defensive linemen who spend their careers maintaining an athletic 300+ pound physique. While the idea of eating whatever one wants while earning millions might seem appealing, the reality is that it takes a significant toll on their bodies. Football players endure intense exercise while carrying this extra weight for most of the year. It's no surprise that many of the NFL's longest-tenured players opt for a healthier weight post-retirement, as walking around without the added pounds provides a sense of relief. Some players become so tired of constantly eating to maintain their weight that they lose their appetite by the end of their careers.
Mike Pouncey's Transformation
Mike Pouncey, a ten-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer in 2023, is a prime example of this phenomenon. Marcel Louis-Jacques reported on March 9, 2023, that Mike Pouncey stated that he and his brother lost 70 pounds since retirement, revealing they were told they now “eat like rabbits.” He spent most of his career at 310 pounds but is at a more manageable weight post-retirement.
In 2021, Mike Pouncey signed a one-day contract with the Miami Dolphins, the team that drafted him, ensuring he retired as a Dolphin. He announced his retirement alongside his twin brother, Maurkice. Speaking from the Dolphins training facility in Miami Gardens, Pouncey appeared noticeably trimmer, weighing in at 228 pounds - a significant drop from his playing weight.
Pouncey explained that he and his brother challenged themselves to lose weight after retiring, simply by "stop eating like linemen." He humorously described their current eating habits as "like rabbits," contrasting it with their previous "pig-like" consumption during their playing days.
Other Notable Weight Loss Stories
Mike Pouncey is not alone in his post-retirement weight loss journey. Several other NFL players have experienced similar transformations, often driven by a desire for improved health and well-being.
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Joe Thomas
Thomas, now an analyst for the NFL Network, shed over 50 pounds in nine months after his final game. He humorously noted, “You just don't eat until you feel like you're going to throw up at every meal, and all of a sudden, the weight falls right off." Thomas also expressed his eagerness to lose weight, stating, "I was more eager to lose weight than almost anything in retirement.” He told ESPN a typical day of eating during his playing days might have included eight eggs, three pancakes, pasta, meatballs, two protein shakes, an entire pizza, a sleeve of cookies, and a bowl of ice cream.
David Pollack
Pollack, a former NFL player turned college football commentator for ESPN, began his weight loss journey during his career. After switching positions after college, Pollack went from a 297-pound defensive lineman to a 260-pound linebacker. A career-ending injury prompted him to focus on improving his health, leading him to his current weight of 220 pounds through mindful eating habits.
Mike Golic
Golic, a former defensive tackle for the Eagles, weighed around 280 pounds during his career. Now a podcast/radio host and college football commentator, Golic's current weight is unknown, but he sports a physique more akin to a wide receiver than a defensive lineman.
Jeff Saturday
Saturday, Peyton Manning's center with the Indianapolis Colts, retired after the 2012 season at 295 pounds. As an ESPN personality and former interim head coach of the Colts, Saturday now weighs 238 pounds and promotes healthy lifestyles for former players. He emphasized the structured lives of NFL players, where coaches handle most details, and the subsequent adjustment needed to maintain healthy habits after retirement. “NFL players lead very structured lives,” Saturday said. “Our coaches tell us when practice starts, when it ends, when meetings start, when they end, when we travel, where we're going to stay. All of those things handled for you so often and for so long in your life, there is an adjustment. There is a transition that guys have to catch hold of and be diligent about staying on top of details.”
Jordan Gross
Gross, a three-time Pro Bowler and 300-pound offensive lineman with the Carolina Panthers, underwent a dramatic transformation shortly after retiring. Seven months later, he appeared at training camp, having lost close to 100 pounds. In an interview with ESPN, Gross called his playing size "artificial," noting people are not meant to be that big. Gross also told ESPN he lost the weight by trying different diets including paelo and being a vegetarian, to the point where he believes he became a little obsessed with losing weight.
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Antone Davis
Davis, a former 330-pound offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1990s, reached 475 pounds after retiring. Realizing the need for a lifestyle change, he embarked on a journey to improve his health.
The Challenges of Maintaining Weight in the NFL
Football players, especially offensive linemen, are often encouraged to consume large quantities of calories to maintain their playing size, which can lead to unhealthy habits and disordered eating. The demanding schedule of an NFL season, including workouts, minicamps, and preseason games, further exacerbates the challenge of maintaining a healthy weight.
Maurkice Pouncey: A Parallel Journey
Maurkice Pouncey, Mike's twin brother, also retired from the NFL in 2021 after an 11-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Like his brother, Maurkice experienced the physical toll of playing in the NFL. Maurkice helped the Steelers reach the Super Bowl in his rookie season, though an ankle injury rendered him a spectator as Pittsburgh fell to Green Bay. He tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in the first quarter of the 2013 season opener against Tennessee and sat out all of 2015 after breaking his left leg in an exhibition game.
He wants to be back on the football field. He wants it bad. And he wants it as soon as the Steelers offseason workouts begin later in the spring. "I can't wait. I have been away from football for a full season," said Pouncey. "You lose that much time, sit back and see all of the guys enjoying it. Even though we didn't have the best season, you always build the memories each and every year. I wasn't a part of that this year. It's my team.
Pouncey underwent surgery shortly after the injury, and the road to recovery started not long after. But it's not an injury you come back from overnight. It can take up to nine months just to function normally again. It takes time, it takes patience. Pouncey, though, doesn't feel like he has either as his goal is to take part in at least a portion of the team's OTAs. He "graduated" from training room rehab after three months, and then went on a workout regime with strength and conditioning Coach Garrett Giemont in the weight room that has him making huge strides.
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