Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been known as one of the beasts of the weightroom, but it wasn’t always like that for NFL great. On a recent episode of the NightCap podcast, Harrison admitted to co-host T. J. Houshmandzadeh that the discipline to the weights he shows now on Instagram wasn’t always there when he first signed in the NFL.
Early on, Harrison wasn’t initially a fitness fanatic. It wasn’t until college that he started seriously working out, understanding that the stronger and faster he became, the better he could perform on the field. As he puts it, “The better shape you are in, the stronger you get, the faster you get, the better you’ll be able to go out there and play.”
He says his early days in football were far from smooth. He bounced between being cut and re-signed by teams, including stints in NFL Europe’s Reign Fire, before landing with the Steelers in 2004. Harrison told Houshmandzadeh his big turning point came when a teammate showed him his paycheck. The check showed him earning more in two weeks than Harrison did all year as a rookie. That moment was a wake-up call. “I was like, you know what? Man, I gotta stop doing everything, or at least cut down on what I was doing at that point and start doing things necessary to take care of my body.”
Following that revelation, Harrison went on to explain how he radically transformed his lifestyle. “I started adding different therapies into my regimen,” he says. “Each year, you end up finding somebody new, and you’re like, ‘Oh, this works better.’” He incorporated massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and even personalized nutrition based on blood work.
He also made the crucial decision to quit drinking during the week, then extended it to the offseason, eventually cutting it out entirely. “I cut out drinking and started focusing on what I could do to make my career longer. The better I took care of my body, the longer I could play.”
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It’s Hard to Tell James Harrison Has Scaled Back His Training
Even after retiring, Harrison maintains a rigorous five-day-a-week workout routine, albeit with more care as he’s grown older. “I’m 47 now, and I just can’t keep up with doing six days like I used to,” he admits. He balances workouts with regular visits to healthcare specialists, emphasizing a holistic approach to health and longevity. “I’m just doing what’s necessary so I can continue to feel better and live my life well.”
Harrison’s fitness mindset is fueled by competition and camaraderie. On the podcast, he responded to rapper Jim Jones’ challenge for a workout battle. The contest, he said, would feature pull-ups, push-ups, and dips. “It’s not about destroying anybody, it’s a workout challenge,” he says. “I love doing challenges like that.” Though he jokes about possibly embarrassing himself, his competitive spirit remains strong. “You gotta start somewhere. My pride won’t let me quit.”