The Upper-Body Workout Titans Quarterback Will Levis Swears By

When you think of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, the names that immediately come to mind are Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning. And while they're all household names now, at one point, all of these Hall of Famers were new kids on the block with two things in common: an unparalleled work ethic and incredible potential.

Speaking of potential, Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is making a name for himself after his rookie season, and it's not just thanks to his recently co-created No. 8 signature mayonnaise perfume. Hellmann's.

The 25-year-old sophomore didn’t just spend last offseason making brand deals. According to Levis, he worked in and out of the gym for months to improve his game, from chatting with new head coach Brian Callahan to fine-tune his footwork and improve his shooting technique to doing position-specific drills and exercises to ensure he hits the ground running when it’s game time.

While the preseason and regular season training regimen varies from player to player, for Levis, “the intensity was just adjusted for when training camp started, then the types of workouts were a mix of weight training, speed training, conditioning and position-specific drills,” such as getting the ball up in the air, throwing it and working on downs to make sure he was centered and ready at the gun.

Although Levis claimed to be a great Olympic weightlifter before his NFL debut (powerlifting and hang cleans are his two favorites), he replaced his regular post-match runs with heavier, more intense lifts with full-body moves using dumbbells or kettlebells.

As part of its partnership with Optimum Nutrition, Levis Men's Magazine To share the workout he swears by to make his shooting arm bulletproof.

The Upper-Body Workout Titans Quarterback Will Levis Swears By

1. Med Ball Spinning Shot

Med Ball Spinning Shot

Justin Steele

How To

  1. To start, stand approximately two to four feet away from a wall with a medicine ball in each hand.
  2. Rotate until the medicine ball is in line with your back hip.
  3. Rotate your hips as you shift your weight from your rear hip to your front hip and explosively throw the ball against the wall.
  4. Catch the ball with both hands, rest, and repeat for 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps.

2. Overhead Impact

Overhead Collisions

Marius Bug

How To

  1. To start, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and place a medicine ball between and slightly in front of your feet.
  2. To receive the ball, squat down and hold it at your sides (palms facing in).
  3. Stand up and bring the ball slightly behind and above your head.
  4. Push your hips back, stabilize your torso, and strengthen your arms to slam the ball into the floor.
  5. This is 1 rep.
  6. Complete 4 sets of 15 reps.

3. Side to side medicine ball collision

Side to side collisions

Justin Steele

How To

  1. To start, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a medicine ball directly in front of your feet.
  2. To receive the ball, squat down and hold it at your sides (palms facing in).
  3. Stand up and lift the ball over your head.
  4. Place your feet on the floor and tighten your core, rotating your hips slightly to the left and slamming the ball into the floor.
  5. This is 1 rep.
  6. Pause and repeat the move for 3 sets of 15 reps on each side.

4. Lower Hand Medicine Ball Throw

Bottom Shots

James Michelfelder

How To

  1. To start, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a medicine ball in your hands, palms facing inward.
  2. Without moving your feet, squat down and lower the ball between your legs.
  3. Using the underhand motion, throw the ball to the wall in front of you and catch it when it bounces back.
  4. This is 1 rep.
  5. Complete 3 sets of 12 reps.

5. Chest Bumps

Chest Bumps

Justin Steele

How To

  1. To start, place your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and place a medicine ball between and slightly in front of your feet.
  2. Grab the medicine ball and pull your elbows toward your body.
  3. Before you slam the ball into the ground, bend your knees and slightly bend your hips.
  4. Repeat for 4 sets of 15 reps.

Related: Patrick Mahomes' Coach Shares a Look at the Quarterback's Offseason Workouts

Levis' Diet

Protein for Optimal Performance

You often hear fitness experts talk endlessly about the importance of nutrition – that’s why they say abs are made in the kitchen and protein is the building block of muscle. But when you’re a professional athlete, the importance of a regimen is doubled. Not only do pros have to make sure they’re eating enough to meet the demands of hours of play and endless training, they also have to guide recovery with food.

“I think nutrition is the most important thing, and that’s been a big focus for me over the last couple of years,” Levis says. “I’ve never been one to track calories and protein 100 percent, but protein is something I’ve been keeping my finger on this offseason…because I know if I’m not getting the recovery I need with the nutrition I’m getting, I’m not going to be able to go out there when I want to.”

Levis' Keys to Recovery

All Inclusive in Volume, Cold Immersion and Massages

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

“Every morning I go to the steam room for 10 minutes, then I dive right into the cold water,” Levis says. “I come down, hold my breath for about 30 to 45 seconds, wake myself up, then do a little bit of contrast, going back and forth between cold and hot. I think that's a really good routine to get myself going before I go and get that elevator every morning.”

But the recovery process doesn't end there, after all, he's working his body to the highest level possible.

“Massage therapy has probably been the biggest investment I’ve ever made in myself, and I think the thing that’s helped me the most is getting my body in shape once a week,” she says. “I get two two-hour massages every week on Tuesdays and Fridays during the season with an incredible therapist. She knows my body better than anyone, and sometimes she understands it better than I do.”

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