You need only look at Tom Brady to understand that the life of professional athletes is one that revolves around fitness routines, recovery schedules and regimented meal plans. And while others might scoff at such careful detail paid to sleep and energy expenditure, these marginal gains can be the difference between winning and losing, these are the things that spell the difference between whether you retreat back to the locker room with your head in your hands or embrace teammates and dig in for a night of wild antics and celebrations. For Russell Wilson, the NFL star knows that longevity in the game hinges on his commitment to all facets of training.
On a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the star quarterback was joined by his wife, R&B star Ciara, where he spoke about the time, energy, and lucrative sums of money he invests in keeping his body in peak condition and the best shape he can be. “It’s a process, it’s a lifestyle,” he explained. “When you’re trying to play as long as I’m trying to play, I’m trying to play ’til 45…The mentality, the focus level, everything that you have to do has to be surrounded on that. So it’s been an amazing journey for me so far.”
But just how much money is considered necessary when it comes to keeping his body in the best shape he can be? Well, in an interview with Bill Simmons in November of 2020, Wilson said he spends as much as US$1 million each year on ensuring he stays at peak physical condition, and he even has a “performance team” surrounding him to help achieve his goals, including a full-time personal trainer, physical therapist, mobility coach, massage therapist and two private chefs.
Wilson eats as many as nine meals a day and currently he’s embracing a 10-day diet that sees him consume no dairy, gluten or read meat. It might seem excessive, but Wilson believes that investing in his health and performance is key to not only performing at his best, but ensuring he is better able to overcome the psychological challenges of being a professional athlete, too.
“It’s not just the recovery part of it – that’s huge, right, and getting that – but you know for me, the biggest thing, you know you mentioned the body, and all that stuff, the biggest thing for me is the mental game,” he told Simmons. “You know, the mental game is so important.”
