Matt Ryan credits Tom Brady’s TB12 method with his own health
NFL quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Tom Brady share more than just their participation in one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time.
When one thinks about Tom Brady and Matt Ryan, chances are the first thing that immediately comes to mind is their high-profile clash in Super Bowl 51.
Arguably the greatest championship game in the history of the sport, the Patriots infamously stormed back from a 28-3 third quarter deficit to force overtime for the first time in Super Bowl history. They then went on to beat the Falcons, of course, cementing the franchise’s legacy atop the pantheon of NFL organizations.
While Brady came out the victor that day and Ryan was the gracious loser, the two quarterbacks have continued to dominate their sport in the ensuing years, with each being routinely listed among the top 10 at the position every new season.
Apparently, they also have more in common than just NFL quarterbacking and vivid memories of playing signal-caller in Super Bowl 51, as well.
Ryan recently sat down with NBC Sports’ Peter King for a wide-ranging interview, and one of the topics that came up during their conversation was Brady and the impact he’s had on Ryan during their professional careers. A part of that interview transcript was shared by Nick Goss, also of NBC Sports (Boston), and this is what it said:
"“The Patriots came down here and practiced with us maybe in 2009 or 2010, I can’t remember what year it was, but I was having tendinitis in my elbow, and I remember Tom was working out in our weight room right here after one of the practices. And I just was in there doing my routine after and just talked to him a little bit about how he was staying as healthy as he could like this time in his career — I was only in Year 2 or 3 — and he was saying, ‘When we’re young, we do all this lifting and we get real tight and bulked up and all these things, and you just hurt.’ He’s like, ‘And now I’m trying to lengthen and be strong but be mobile and all those things.’ I remember hearing that as a young player and being like, ‘Man, that makes a lot of sense. He might be on to something.’ I think the trend has gone that way. Obviously, him with the TB12 and their method and everything that he does, obviously he’s doing a great job with it, but I think there’s a lot of guys who are following that mold.”"
Ryan is of course referring to Brady and Alex Guerrero. Guerrero is Brady’s personal health, wellness, and fitness guru; he’s also Brady’s business partner in devising the TB12 method, a diet and exercise regimen/philosophy that prioritizes muscle pliability and eating anti-inflammatory foods, among other things.
Brady has had a number of professional athletes and NFL players convert to some of his methodologies over the years… most notably his old former teammate Rob Gronkowski. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has also previously expressed admiration for Brady’s remarkable health, longevity, and durability, and has admitted to incorporating some elements of the TB12 program into his own health practices.
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Ryan’s belief in Brady’s system wasn’t known until this interview, but if ‘the proof is in the pudding,’ it’s not a huge surprise to learn that he’s also a disciple of sorts. As Goss notes in his column, Ryan hasn’t missed a game in nearly 10 years. Evidently, he learned a thing or two from speaking with Brady and putting into practice what the Patriots QB preached; his current iron-man streak is undeniable proof of just that.