NFL offensive linemen spend years keeping their weight up during their professional careers to help them battle in the trenches. Following his retirement in March, former New Orleans Saints center Max Unger became the latest of his peers to transform his body completely.
Unger entered the NFL in 2009 as a second-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks. After hitting the field for his first game at 300-plus pounds, he largely held that weight for the majority of his playing days.
Following a 10-year career that saw him win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks and be named to the Pro Bowl three times, Unger is quickly finding success away from football. The 34-year-old spoke with reporters for the first time in months, revealing that he has already lost 60 pounds.
We’ve seen similar results for other offensive lineman shortly after they hang up the cleats. Former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas, who played in excess of 310 pounds during his career, lost more than 50 pounds.
There’s also another great example from this offseason. Marshal Yanda, an All-Pro guard for the Baltimore Ravens, has dropped 60 pounds in over three months.
It’s great to see these former athletes are finding ways to improve themselves and live healthier lifestyles after a grueling NFL career. Let’s hope this trend continues for many of their peers in the years to come.