Allen Park — In preparation for his role as the team’s clear-cut No. 1 option, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been trying out a different sport entirely.
According to running backs coach Tashard Choice, Gibbs has been training in mixed-martial arts with receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in California. The coach is anticipating the cross-training will prepare Gibbs for an even more dominant season out of the backfield.
“When you train in the offseason, you put your body through different things so that you can handle the rigor of the season and how hard the season really is,” Choice said.
“So when you do MMA training … boxing, when you’re punching, it’s all about hand placement and hand-eye coordination, balance, putting the weight on the balls of your feet — the same thing you do in pass protection, the same thing you do when you’re running and planting on the outside foot.”
Choice advocated for athletes to play multiple sports, saying, “All sports correlate to each other. That’s why you should play all sports.”
“When you do MMA training, your abs, your core, striking, power through the ground, all those things affect — kicking, extending your legs, hamstrings, your quads, all that stuff takes training,” Choice added.
Gibbs has been one of the most productive running backs in NFL history through his first three seasons, all of which have seen him make the Pro Bowl. He has more touchdowns (49) than any other player in NFL history through their first three seasons, and his 5,029 scrimmage yards are the eighth-most by a player before turning 24 years old.
Earlier in the offseason program, Lions coach Dan Campbell proclaimed that Gibbs would be the team’s new “bell cow” after running back David Montgomery was traded to the Houston Texans in March.
Choice said he’s communicated to Gibbs the responsibility that comes with a head coach “giving you the keys.”
“You have the responsibility for everybody in the organization, every fan, every kid that’s a Detroit Lions fan,” Choice said of his conversation with Gibbs. “My onus is to put that on him, and he has to handle that.”
So far, so good: “He’s looked the best he’s looked so far in his pro career,” Choice said.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Why Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs added MMA to his offseason training plan
Reporting by Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
